D · RUGS NEW DELHI
generally custom-made for the Shah of Iran. The Dabeer Kashans were created by master weavers of their time, Mohtesam and Dabeer, who also catered to the Shah. A few in this collection were fashioned by another weaver called Hadji Jalili.The pedigree of the rugs made by these weavers far exceed any other, since they used the highest-grade wool and dyes, and also benefitted from the luxury of time. A 6ft x 4ft carpet, the smallest in the Chandras’collection, could have taken anything from seven months to a year to make, while the largest in the collection – a 22ft x 14ft – carpet could easily have consumed anywhere between 1-5 years. “A king or an aristocrat would commission a piece to the master weaver and ask him to make a bespoke piece; and he was willing to pay the price. The weavers would take years to finish a carpet from scratch and took great pride in their oeuvre. They had workshops for 300-400 years with 8th- or 10th-generation weavers. That would be the reputation of a workshop,” says Chandra.
Besides pashmina, some piecesin this 100-yearold collection are crafted out of kurk wool, shorn from the chest and shoulders of sheep or goats found high up in the mountains. The higher the animals live in the mountains, the thinner the hair, and the finer the wool. The original 26-piece collection has now however been reduced to 23 as Chandra has recently sold a few pieces to collectors. The origin of The Carpet Cellar dates back to about 35 years ago, when Chandra’s uncle saw an advertisement in d luck, asa newspaper about a retired colonel who had fought m, manyin World War II, and had collected a number of carf rams –pets during his travels, which he wanted to sell. This tures – tomarked the beginning of a love affair between carpets eau. and Sheel Chandra. “My uncle couldn’t sleep for a can also few nights after he bought the rugs, thinking of how Persian beautiful they were,” says Chandra. Over the years, ce wherehis uncle collected over 2,000 carpets, along with created other antiques such as crystal, Tanjore and Mysore llection avar near ral Iran,
tten ug, ive. in iful ith ss ”
paintings,and Italian wine.He kept these collectibles in a ‘not for sale’ room of the house. Finally, in 1993, his wife told him that he must get rid of these, and he decided to put his thenow market.
The original 26-carpet piececollection collectiononhas Most of the been original collection is as for sale today,has but however reduced to 23 Chandra the family kept 400pieces exclusive as part recentlyhas sold a few to pieces collectors.
Theof a private collection, whichCellar they hope display in a origin of The Carpet dates to back to about carpet museum. bittenuncle by the carpet 35 years ago,“Once whenyou are Chandra’s saw an in a newspaper about a retired bug,advertisement it is very addictive.
There is a joy in acquiring colonelthings, who had fought World II, and beautiful along withina bit of War madness and had My collected number of he carpets during his passion. uncle alost his mind; was a complete travels, which he wanted to sell. markedis carpet-phile,” muses Chandra. “ButThis the effort the beginning lovejoy affair between minimal, comparedoftoa the carpets bringcarpets and Sheel Chandra. “My uncle couldn’t sleep for a few nights after he bought the rugs, thinking of how beautiful they were,” says