Do the pictures represent any recognizable stories or fables? (Some of the animals are mythological--phoenixes, dragons, and composites. The depiction of heads growing from tree branches might be a reference to the oracular tree that warned Alexander the Great not to invade India. There is also an Islamic legend of Zakkum [Zaqqum], the terrible tree of hell whose poisonous fruits grew in the shape of human and animal heads. However, there is also a decorative tradition in Islamic art of embellishing the ends of vines and branches with heads.)
Social Studies:
Why would carpet weaving flourish in India, a hot and humid country with no need for heavy carpets? (In the sixteenth century, weaving was a highly advanced art in India, but the textiles produced were light in weight, suited to the climate. The Mughal emperors were familiar with the carpets of Persia and Turkey, and they wanted the same thing for their courts.)
What were the carpets’ functions? How can they be identified? (The sturdiness of the weave, the value of the materials used, the number of knots per square inch, and the design provide clues to the use of carpets. Coarsely woven carpets were probably placed on the floor, and fine velvety ones might have been hung on the wall. Very fine carpets were saved for ceremonial use. Prayer rugs can be identified by their depiction of the niche and also through patterns of wear from kneeling.)
How is it possible to identify a place and date for the carpets? (Techniques and imagery, even color schemes, varied according to location and period.)
Who wove the rugs? (Carpets intended for Mughal or Rajput court use probably were woven in royal workshops by anonymous artisans. Later, provincial weaving centers came into being.)
Who else bought carpets? (European merchants and traders bought and commissioned carpets. Sometimes they had the weavers incorporate a coat of arms or guild insignia in the woven design. Dutch traders took carpets to Japan.)
Which designs are typically Indian and which come from other sources? (The more naturalistic flower and animal designs reflect Indian influences; the stylized, geometric patterns are a feature of Islamic art; some of the flower designs may be inspired by European herbals; and the little clouds and animals with flames shooting from their bodies are typically Chinese.)
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