Kashmiri Silk Carpets: Handmade Luxury Rugs from Kashmir

Context: The ongoing Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict has sent tremors through the craft clusters of Srinagar.

Historical Connections between Kashmiri and Iranian Carpets

The relationship between Kashmiri and Iranian carpets dates back centuries, solidified through trade and imperial patronage.

• Mughal Era (16th Century): Iranian traders facilitated a massive transfer of skills, often taking Kashmiri artisans to Iran for development.
• Dogra Period (19th Century): Srinagar became a favourite stop for Persian traders. In 1869, the iconic “House of Ali Shah” was established, formalising the export of Indo-Persian designs.
• Shared Technique: The hallmark of both traditions is dense hand-knotting, a skill passed down through generations.

About Kashmiri Silk Carpets

• Raw Material: Silk-on-Silk (mulberry silk) or Silk-on-Cotton.
• Talim: A unique coded script used by Kashmiri weavers to “read” the carpet design.
• Geographical Indication (GI): Kashmiri Hand-Knotted Carpets received a GI Tag in 2022.
• OQR Code Labelling: First of its kind in India to ensure authenticity and “source to consumer” tracking.

Design Characteristics

Kashmiri carpets are essentially a “woven map” of Iran. Most designs are named after the specific Iranian cities where the patterns originated. Each city has a distinct “design signature”:

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