Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

1900s Antique Indian Rug - 16'2'' X 12'0''

$22,800
£17,616.95
€20,366.86
CA$32,218.05
A$36,134.68
CHF 18,923.17
MX$439,071.65
NOK 240,292.62
SEK 227,814.33
DKK 152,027.96

About the Item

Antique Agra Rugs Agra has been a major center of area rug and carpet production since the great period of Mughal art in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. When the carpet industry was revived there under British rule in the nineteenth century, the great Mughal tradition got a new lease on life, accompanied by a new interest in the sorts of classically derived designs current in Persian rug production during the same period. Because of this, nineteenth and early twentieth century Agra carpets enjoyed a varied and eclectic background that could draw on all the great achievements of Oriental carpet weaving. Antique Agra rugs present elegant allover designs alongside medallion or centralized patterns. They have the rich pungent palette of classical Indian and Persian carpets as well as soft, cool earthy tones. Located in the Uttar Pradesh state in northern India, the city of Agra is most widely recognized for the Taj Mahal, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s mausoleum for his third wife. Less widely known is that Agra has also been a large center for rug weaving since the 16th century. When Agra first became the Mughal capital in 1566, it also established its presence as a rug weaving center. The Indians themselves had never had much need for large carpets and the craft was introduced relatively late. During the 17th century, a number of skillful Persians were called in to impart their weaving knowledge in India. Large carpet factories were started in Lahore; the patterns as well as the knotting closely resembled Persian work. A number of antique carpets from this time are now found in museums throughout Europe and America. Production of fine rugs continued here through the decline of the Mughal Empire in the 17th century after which most antique Agra rugs were categorized as Indo Isfahan weaving. Since the end of the 19th century rugs in India have been primarily woven to order and have been made with the finest quality in mind. Although later rugs do derive patterns from their predecessors, the changing style of Agra carpets can be most clearly seen during the British rule of the 19th and 20th centuries. Production ceased after the 1920’s but resumed again in more recent times. Now, Agra carpets are considered some of the most decorative pieces internationally. Agra Rugs are difficult to classify as they vary in size, design, and composition. Although they often exhibit open fields with smaller medallions and guards, they can also be woven with all-over designs. Similarly, the fields are usually composed of olive greens, blues, fawns, and tans, but can also be red or other colors. They are usually woven with wool, but can also be found with cotton. The older Mughal pieces are relatively rare (they are usually found in fragments or are re-sized and heavily restored) and as such are much more valuable. The weight of an Agra is one telling factor between the older Mughal Agra carpets which are lighter and the newer Agra rugs that are heavier. It is also difficult to tell Agra rugs apart from other types of Indian rugs such as Amritsar rugs. Many times dealers will label a piece as an Agra as the connotation is much better than Amritsar, but this is a misnomer. While the definite location of any one piece is hard to distinguish, one can be sure that real antique Agra carpets are fine pieces and great for collectors and designers alike. History of Antique Indian Agra Carpets: Agra lies on the Yamuna River in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The ancient origins of the city, dated to least 1000 BCE, are referenced in the Mahabharata, although not well-documented. Sikander Lodi, Sultanate of Delhi, made Agra his capital in the early 1500’s CE. It is today most well-known as the location of the Taj Mahal, built under Mughal ruler Shah Jahan. Agra Fort and the fortified city of Fatehpur Sikri, both built by Mughal ruler Akbar, as well as the Taj Mahal, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Agra. The inception of carpet weaving on a grand scale in India can be pinpointed to the arrival of the Mughals in India in the 1500’s. When Mughal Emperor Babur (1483-1530) conquered India and took Delhi in 1526, he lamented the lack of fine objects and comfortable environment that he had experienced prior to occupying his new capital in Agra. He brought with him some of the trappings from his native land and territories under his domain, including carpets. He did not establish weaving centers or try to create these textiles in his new homeland; instead, he imported them from Iran.
  • Dimensions:
    Width: 144 in (365.76 cm)Length: 194 in (492.76 cm)
  • Style:
    Empire (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
    1900-1909
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1900
  • Condition:
    Excellent Condition.
  • Seller Location:
    Los Angeles, US
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 5050y1stDibs: LU9020235541552

More From This Seller

View All
1900s Antique Indian Agra Rug - 12'5'' X 11'10''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Agra Rugs Agra has been a major center of area rug and carpet production since the great period of Mughal art in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. When the carpet indu...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Indian Empire Indian Rugs

Materials

Wool, Cotton

1900s Antique Indian Rug - 14'8'' X 12'0''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Indian Rugs – Not all the rugs that were woven in India are easy to categorize. That is why we created this antique Indian rugs section. Here you will find Indian rugs of whi...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Indian Empire Indian Rugs

Materials

Wool, Cotton

1900s Antique Indian Amritsar Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Amritsar Rugs – The spectacular rugs of Amritsar capture the exotic style of India while incorporating a subtle colonial influence. This convergence of eastern and western styles results in an exceptionally alluring appearance that has been beloved by western consumers historically and today. The outstanding old Amritsar carpets were created by influential exporters to fuel the demand for exotic rugs...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Asian Other Russian and Scandinavian Rugs

Materials

Wool, Cotton

1900s Antique Indian Amritsar Rug - 10'6'' X 7'9''
Located in Los Angeles, US
During the period of Colonial rule over India, Amritsar rugs began to reflect Western influences in their design. The craftspeople of Northern India took their chance to profit from ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Indian Empire Indian Rugs

Materials

Wool, Cotton

1900s Antique Indian Amritsar Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
During the period of Colonial rule over India, Amritsar rugs began to reflect Western influences in their design. The craftspeople of Northern India took their chance to profit from ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Indian Other Indian Rugs

Materials

Wool, Cotton

1900s Antique Indian Amritsar Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Amritsar Rugs: - The spectacular rugs of Amritsar capture the exotic style of India while incorporating a subtle colonial influence. This convergence of eastern and western s...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Asian Other Russian and Scandinavian Rugs

Materials

Wool, Cotton

You May Also Like

Early 20th Century Indian Agra Accent Rug
Located in New York, NY
An antique Indian Agra accent rug. The decoration both of the ivory subfield and the matching ivory border of a twisted, looping meandering tendril sprouting smooth and octofoil palm...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Agra Indian Rugs

Materials

Wool

Antique Indian Area Rug with Modern Victorian Style
Located in Dallas, TX
76739, antique Indian Area rug with Modern Victorian style. Rich in color, texture and beguiling ambiance, this antique Indian rug features a lavish floral pattern composed of rosett...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Victorian Indian Rugs

Materials

Wool

Vintage Indian Rug with Victorian Style
Located in Dallas, TX
78230 vintage Indian rug with Victorian style 09'06 x 13'06. Rendered in variegated shades of burgundy, tan, black, sand, taupe, wine, ecru, olive, brown, rosewood, forest green, lig...
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Victorian Indian Rugs

Materials

Wool

Antique Mahal Persian Rug c. Late 19th Century 9 x 12
Located in Westfield, MA
Woven in the Arak region of central Persia during the late 19th century, this antique Mahal rug features a beautifully spaced allover pattern of stylized palmettes, rosettes, and lea...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Persian Tribal Persian Rugs

Materials

Wool

Vintage Indian Area Rug with Traditional Persian Style
Located in Dallas, TX
74382, vintage Indian area rug with traditional Persian style. This hand-knotted wool vintage Indian area rug with traditional Persian style features a bold all-over floral lattice p...
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Modern Indian Rugs

Materials

Wool

Handmade Antique Sarouk Style Rug, 1900s, 1B709
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Handmade antique Persian Sarouk rug in beige wool. The rug is from the beginning of 20th century in original good condition.  
Category

Antique Early 1900s Indian Rugs

Materials

Wool