D
CIETSIYGTNALRKUGS NEW DELHI
Wondrous Weaves
Wondrous
Weaves
At the heart of this New Delhi store, which stocks several ancient, tribal, and contemporary
f you could be whisked away on aof magical lies aof prized Persian carpets, some them carpet At therugs, heart thiscapsule New collection of a century-old à la Aladdin, chances are you’d probably choose personally commissioned by the former Shah of Iran.
Delhi store, which stocks a fabulous creation from The Carpet Cellar, several ancient, tribal, and tucked away in the basement of a south Delhi house.
With over 2,000 stunning antique, tribal, and contemporary of the most popular designs Since most of the carpets from the rugs collection f you could be whisked away on a magical nouveau thatTwo have been collected byfound the in this family collection are the ‘Tree of Life’ and the ‘Garden are hand-knotted and made from top-quality chances arecapsule you’d rugs,carpet liesà laaAladdin, prized for aover three the “The Tree Chandras’ lavish home of Paradise’. of Life is a famous 16 - at pashmina wool, they still boast distinct sheen.decades, probably choose a fabulous creation from They have retained their vivid colours, as only The Carpet Cellar, tucked away in the century Persian design. Interestingly, these two collection of a century-old 1 Anand Lok is carpet heaven.
One of The Carpet the choicest dyes were used on them. “The basement of a south Delhi house. With over symbols have also been referred to in Quranic red was derived from madder, amost creeperprized 2,000 stunning antique, tribal, and nouveau verses, old paintings,is a ancient Islamic Cellar’s collections set of 26scriptures, antique Persian carpets, some ofcolour them found in certain parts of the world. The blue rugs that have been collected by the family for and religious texts. The Tree of Life represents Persian weaves, created 18801920,humanity many of came from indigo, a plant found originally over three decades, the Chandras’ lavish home harmony circa between the three worlds; personally commissioned the in by India, and then exported to the were West and at 1 Anand Lok is carpet heaven. One of The ground, birds thatthe fly inerstwhile the sky, and what which madeonon order for Shah Carpet Cellar’s most prized collections is a set of Persia,” says Chandra. Natural ingredients lies beneath the earth. The Garden of Paradise former Shah of Iran. of Iran. “This is the secondlargest carpet were used in place of processed dyes to create 26 antique Persian weaves, created circa 1880also symbolizes the harmonyprivate between humans TEXT BY TREESHA DATTA / PHOTOGRAPHED BY ADHIRA AGRAWAL AND TANYA MEHRA
APR — MAY 2013
1920, many of which were made on order for the erstwhile Shah of Iran. “This is the secondlargest private carpet collection in Asia, after the collection owned by the Sultan of Brunei,” says Dhruv Chandra, co-owner of the family-owned business, who places the value of each carpet from `20-45 lakh. “Most of these pieces were hung up on walls or were placed in rooms in private homes, where access was limited. That is why they are in perfect condition.”
th
primary colours in those times, which in wereAsia,and nature,”
One can spot by various collection after thesays Chandra. collection owned the then mixed to derive secondary shades: crushed animals, and flowers – from roses to poppies, Sultan Brunei,”says Dhruv Chandra, co-owner pomegranate seeds gave a red hue,of walnuts carnations to irises – and in some cases, even of emitted brown, saffron, marigolds, or the outer and other structures. The flowers stand the family-ownedpalaces business, who places the value of skin of pomegranates exuded yellow. Different for love and humanity, while the lattice pattern hues could also be extracted from the same can belakh. spotted in a few of pieces, were each carpet from that `20-45 “Most ofthethese pieces ingredient by varying the levels of mordant inspired from architecture. “Some of the pieces were the hung walls were placed rooms (a fixing agent), while preparing dye. up on in this or collection feature marble in jalis or screens in Each of these antique private carpets hashomes, its own where spotted on Mughal-era monuments access was limited.
Thatlikeisthe why distinctive pattern, with a meaning behind it. Taj Mahal or the Red Fort,” says Chandra.
they are in perfect condition.”
Top: A circa 1880 Dabeer Kashan with floral patterns in rich hues.