Pure Silk Carpets

Silk carpets are known for their elegance, grace and characteristic luster that forms an inherent part of silk fiber. Silk as it is, is considered one of the most valuable natural fibers. Pure silk carpets are known for intricate artistic patterns and bright colors.

Origin
Initially the carpets were made of either wool or cotton but when the silk was introduced in the carpet belt, the finer carpets were made of silk. Apart from the fact that the yarn was fine and lusterous, the silk provided the necessary strength to the carpet. The exotic Persian carpets were usually made of silk yarn. The same art when reached India during the Mughal period, developed in Kashmir. Kashmir had available the finest wool and silk to make the classic carpets.

Handkotted pure silk Carpets are known for suppleness and softness and fine workmanship

Technique
The silk is basically a strong fiber. The fiber is often used for the piling in a cotton or wool base but silk itself forms a fine wrap and weft. The number of knots per square inch defines the quality of the carpet. Bokhara Carpets are one of the finest with about 125-500 knots in a square inch.

The silk yarn is first dyed in required colors. The loom is set and each pile is hand knotted. After finishing carpets are washed and dried.

Patterns
Since number of knots per square inch of pure silk carpets is very high, very fine patterns can be created in them. The designs vary from intricate motifs and patterns of nature, hunting scenes, bird and animal motifs or thematic designs like historical romances. Buddhist and Taoist symbols such as the swastika, the yin and yang motif and patterns of Persian tradition can also be seen.

Another unique quality of silk is that silk colors appear differently on different sources of light. Some weaver have been able to capture this property rather beautifully.

Regions
Pure silk carpets in India are made only Jammu Kashmir and Laddakh Region.