The ‘Gonbad-e-Noor’ Hand-Knotted Silk Carpet: 6 × 9 ft Modern Heritage Kashmiri Rug (400 KPSI)

                       JOS & FINE
           CURATORIAL CATALOGUE & ARCHIVE

Curatorial Note

Drawing directly from the sacred architectonic splendour of classical Islamic domes, this exceptional Kashmiri silk carpet presents a virtuoso interpretation of the Gonbad (vaulted dome) composition. At its nucleus lies an incandescent stellate medallion in luminous alabaster and saffron, from which unfolds a hypnotic, radiating field of concentric scalloped cartouches. The master draughtsman has calibrated the scale of each repeating medallion with mathematical precision, expanding gently towards the perimeter to evoke the soaring optical perspective of mosque squinches and vaulted ceilings. Framed by a structured series of compound palmette borders and scrolling meander guard stripes, the design guides the gaze inexorably toward its radiant centre.

Woven entirely by master artisans in Kashmir over months, the piece achieves its astonishing clarity through an ultra-fine weave of 55 raj (approximately 400 knots per square inch, culminating in an extraordinary 3.1 million (31 Lakh) individually hand-tied knots across the canvas). The pile—spun from pure, high-grade Mulberry silk—possesses an extraordinary lambent lustre, shifting subtly from warm golden sunlight to cool mineral tones depending on the viewer’s perspective and ambient illumination. The chromatic palette is held in sophisticated equilibrium: burnished amber and saffron ochre harmonise with muted celadon, dusty terracotta, and soft blush accents, all delineated by deep espresso contour lines that impart crisp three-dimensional relief to every individual lotus bud and boteh-derived floret.

Embodying the Jos and Fine philosophy, the ‘Gonbad-e-Noor’ reinterprets centuries of royal Kashmiri weaving through a refined, contemporary curatorial sensibility. By pairing complex mathematical geometry with an organic, nuanced colourway, the piece transcends decorative floor covering to stand as an enduring heirloom—a masterwork of textile art designed to bring meditative poise and timeless grandeur to modern private collections.

The Spec Sheet

• Title: The ‘Gonbad-e-Noor’ (Dome of Radiance)

• Price: ₹4,99,000 [approx. $5,200]

• Origin: Handcrafted in the Kashmir Valley

• Design Classification: Concentric Architectural Dome (Gonbad) with Radiating Cartouche Field

• Material Composition: 100% Hand-Spun Mulberry Silk Pile on a Pure Silk Foundation

• Knot Density: 55 Raj (~400 Knots Per Square Inch / KPSI)

• Total Knot Count: ~3.1 million hand-tied knots

• Dimensions: 6 ft × 9 ft (approx. 183 cm × 274 cm)

• Primary Palette:

  • Burnished Amber & Saffron Ochre (Dominant field and radiating cartouches)

  • Muted Celadon & Willow Green (Secondary botanical elements and inner border fields)

  • Parchment Ivory & Alabaster (Central stellate medallion and contrast grounds)

  • Terracotta & Soft Coral (Floral heart accents)

  • Powdered Cerulean & Deep Espresso (Structural defining lines and miniature guard motifs)

    
    

Interior Styling Context

This carpet is scaled and composed to serve as the visual anchor in an expansive salon, high-ceilinged reception room, or an intimate collector’s study. Its disciplined geometric rhythm pairs seamlessly with mid-century rosewood, warm travertine, or refined minimalist architecture, where its shifting silk sheen introduces warmth, architectural gravitas, and quiet sophistication.