The Garden of Pavilions: A Kashmir Panel in Silk

Size: 6 ft x 4 ft
Fineness: 18/18 (324 KPSI | 50 RAJ | ~0.5 million knots per m²)
Material: Pure Silk
Origin: Hand-knotted in Kashmir
 
This pure silk carpet is a resplendent example of the Kashmiri Panel (Garden) design, where art, architecture, and nature unite within a gridded composition.
 
The field is divided into meticulously arranged rectangular panels, each serving as its own framed garden or archway. Within these compartments unfold miniature worlds—cypress trees, floral sprays, weeping willows, pomegranate motifs, and vase compositions—all recurring symbols of abundance, protection, and eternal life in Persian and Kashmiri tradition.
 
The palette is sophisticated and regal: burnt amber, deep indigo, muted turquoise, ivory, and copper tones, harmoniously woven to create depth and contrast. The panels with darker grounds anchor the design, while lighter sections breathe balance and rhythm across the carpet.
Executed at a fineness of 18/18 (324 knots per square inch), the piece contains close to 1.12 million hand-tied knots. Each knot contributes to the clarity of detail—allowing every flower, leaf, and architectural arch to be read like calligraphy in silk. The luminous sheen of the silk enhances the design, shifting elegantly under different light.
 
This carpet is both ornamental and architectural: a portable garden, a woven palace floor, and a collector’s treasure. Whether laid on the ground or displayed as a wall hanging, it embodies centuries of storytelling and the pinnacle of Kashmiri craftsmanship.