Kars Handwoven Transitional Rug, J72990

This Indian rug showcases a Kars design in a transitional style. The background color is a mellow sand with a complementary peach border, while the main color is a versatile beige. The rug is constructed from wool on a cotton foundation, lending durability and a soft texture. Recently woven, this new rug has undergone final washing and multiple finishing processes in Jaipur, India. These rugs are colored using chromium dyes, favored for their accuracy, consistency, and lightfast properties, especially after the antique finishing process. The weaving is typically handled by small contractors who distribute designs and pre-dyed, hand-spun wool to village weavers around Jaipur, and as far as Bikaner to the west. Weavers work primarily in their homes and are compensated based on the square meter. Larger rugs, exceeding 10 feet in width, are usually assigned to villages equipped with stationary horizontal looms. Rajasthan rugs feature an asymmetrical Persian-type knot, a technique utilized for centuries in the region that enhances the rug's unique texture and appearance. This knotting method, combined with vintage worn and weathered finishing, gives the newly made rug an antique look. The wool used is a blend of Ghazni wool from Afghanistan and South African wool. The rug's double-wefted foundation comprises a thick, heavily packed bottom weft with up to 10 plies of dense cotton. The thinner upper weft, white in color, is woven loosely in and out of the warps. When the rug is sheared, this upper weft becomes visible, resembling the way antique rugs wear down over time. These white speckles add texture and dimension, contributing to a lighter overall appearance. The designs of these rugs are inspired by antique Persian and Khotanese carpets, featuring both traditional and modern color schemes. The knots per square inch (KPSI) for this particular rug is 104, resulting in a total of 1,623,755 individually hand-tied knots. Visually, the rug presents an intricate, symmetrical design centered around a notable medallion. The primary colors include shades of beige, blue, pink, and green. The background is a soft beige, while the central medallion features deeper hues of blue, pink, and green. The outer areas are more subdued with blends of these colors. The border is distinct and frames the central design effectively. The outermost border showcases a series of alternating pink and blue floral motifs against a beige background. This is complemented by a simpler inner border. Symmetry is a key characteristic, with the central medallion mirrored along both vertical and horizontal axes, and the border patterns reflecting this symmetry. The rug's central area around the medallion is densely patterned with intricate details, creating a striking contrast with the more open, less densely patterned outer regions. The central medallion stands out as a prominent feature in the overall design.