PROBABLY WARANGAL, CENTRAL INDIA, 18TH CENTURY

The present lot is one of a small group of rare silk rugs most commonly attributed to the Warangel district within the province of Andhra Pradesh in Southern India. All appear to be of a relatively small size, were woven in the late 18th or early 19th century and unfortunately are nearly all in a poor state of preservation. Whilst the striking plain ivory field of the present lot, centralized by a small crimson medallion is more unusual, the border design of angular flowering vine can be seen on a silk Deccani rug sold in these Rooms, 24 April 1997, lot 428. This same border appeared on a small, stylistically similar, wool rug catalogued as an Indian 'Medallion and Animal' rug which sold in The Bernheimer Family Collection of Carpets, in these Rooms, 14 February 1996, lot 166, alongside a further silk rug attributed to Warangel, lot 167 in the same sale. A further example with a golden yellow field with an overall design of crimson flowerheads was sold in these Rooms, 14 October 2004, lot 26. Little is written on silk carpets from the South of India in this period which may possibly be due to the limited number that survive.