The ‘Shalimar Carmine’ Medallion Hand-Knotted Kashmiri Pure Silk Carpet (6 ft × 8 ft) | 66 Raj Heritage Silk-on-Silk Rug

The Curatorial Note

Anchored in the classical Lachak-Toranj (medallion and corner) design tradition, this masterwork reimagines the courtly aesthetic of 17th-century Safavid and Mughal textile arts through a refined contemporary lens. At its heart floats an exquisite, multi-lobed floral medallion rendered in antique ivory and flanked by formal katibeh pendants. The central field—an incandescent, deep carmine—is overlaid with an intricate diamond lattice (jaali), where each lozenge encloses miniature palmettes and blossoming rosettes. The eye travels outward across delicate champagne spandrels into a masterfully balanced border system of reciprocating arabesques and undulating lotus vines, framed by whisper-fine cerulean and slate guard bands.

Woven entirely of pure mulberry silk upon a pure silk warp and weft, the piece demonstrates the zenith of Kashmiri silk weaving. Constructed at an exacting density of 576 knots per square inch (66 Raj)—totalling nearly four million hand-tied nodes—the carpet possesses a textile resolution akin to fine parchment illumination.

The tactile reality is remarkably supple and dense, while the optical properties of the silk create a dynamic dialogue with natural ambient light. Viewed from the pile’s grain, the crimson field reveals deep, velvety depth; viewed from the opposite vantage, the surface transforms into a shimmering, molten rose-gold and clotted-cream lustre.

In keeping with the Jos and Fine ethos, the ‘Shalimar Carmine’ transcends the utilitarian floor covering to exist as a collectible work of woven art. It honours the historic valley’s centuries-old talim script and generational weaving traditions, while delivering a disciplined composition and palette conceived for today’s most discerning private residences and estates.

The Spec Sheet

• Collection / Title: The ‘Shalimar Carmine’ Medallion Silk Carpet

• Dimensions: 6 ft × 8 ft (183 cm × 244 cm / 48 sq. ft.)

• Material Composition: 100% Mulberry Silk Pile on 100% Silk Foundation (Warp & Weft)

• Knot Density: 576 Knots Per Square Inch (KPSI) / 66 Raj

• Total Knots: Approximately 39,81,312 Hand-Tied Knots (~40 Lakh / 4 million)

• Origin: Srinagar, Kashmir (Geographical Indication [GI] Tagged)

• Technique: Traditional hand-knotted loom construction guided by the vocalised talim cipher

• Curated Colour Palette:

  • Primary Field: Carmine / Deep Garnet

  • Medallion & Spandrels: Antique Ivory / Clotted Cream

  • Accent Hues: Glacial Cerulean, Champagne Ochre, and Slate Indigo

• Acquisition Price: ₹5,25,000 | $6,250 USD

Interior Styling Context

This piece serves as an authoritative anchor in a grand drawing room, private gallery, or wood-panelled library. Its jewel-toned vibrancy and ivory borders provide warmth to minimalist architecture, contrasting against pale limestone, chevron parquet, or Belgian linen upholstery, while holding its own alongside mid-century collector pieces and museum-grade contemporary art.