INDIA, SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY, PROBABLY CIRCA 1760

This floor spread closely relates to a summer carpet in the Cleveland Museum of Art, attributed to Delhi, probably from royal Mughal workshops (1916-1359). However, another publication attributes the same floor-cover to 18th century Deccan and notes that "it preserves a classical Islamic format with a centre medallion balanced by quartered medallions in the corners of the field" and that "the vigour and energy of the arts of the Deccan dominate the design of [the] floor-cover" (Rahul Jain, Rapture, The Arts of Indian Textiles, New Delhi, 2011, cat.55, pp.160-161).

The technique of couched metallic embroidery is believed to have been brought to India by Portuguese traders. In the 18th century, a large number of these were exported to Portugal through the port of Goa.