Important Notice

BIKANER, RAJASTHAN, CIRCA 1930
Handspun and handwoven cotton warp and weft
47 x 72 in (120 x 183 cm)


India has a long history of flat weaves, with the craft pre-dating the pile-carpet industry that emerged later and flourished with the Mughals in the 16th century. With the end of Mughal rule and the loss of royal patronage towards the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the British stepped in and took over some of the existing carpet workshops. They also introduced carpet weaving in prisons in an effort to provide long-term prisoners a dependable vocation for earning their livelihood. These carpets were popularly known as prison or jail carpets, and are much sought after by collectors. Prisons in Bikaner, Lahore, Agra and Amritsar were famous for their carpets. Lots 79 and 80 are fine examples of this genre from Bikaner Jail. Jasleen Dhamija acquired both from the jail's stock in 1958, when a few were still left.

The cream colour carpet has a striking blue border; its central field has a classic design known as mahai do hum. The pattern is reminiscent of a double fish around a lotus pond or a water tank, and is associated with water and fertility. Extremely fine and expertly woven it is clearly the work of a long-term prisoner.

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