The Mughals, who originally came from Central Asia, established a powerful Empire during the 16th century that stretched from Afghanistan to the Bay of Bengal. Mughal leaders drew artistic and cultural inspiration from Persia, which is why they brought in Persian artisans, artists, and weavers to glorify the Empire. In 1947, the partition of India into present-day India and Pakistan took place. The city of Lahore, recognized as the cultural and intellectual center of the region, continues to this day to produce high-quality carpets with beautiful designs.

Texture and Quality

There are different textures and qualities of Pakistani carpets that differ fundamentally in the number of knots and the different fineness of the wool. The designs of antique carpets (16th and 17th centuries) have a clear Mughal influence. Over the last 30 years, the vast majority have featured a clear Turkmen influence in their designs. These pieces are frequently referred to as Bukhara, named after the city in Uzbekistan where the original Turkmen carpets were traded. Of very good quality, pieces with a very soft and shiny texture can be found, which in many cases leads one to think, due to their particular luster, that they contain silk. This characteristic is conferred by the fine, silky wool used for their manufacture.

Typical Colors

A wide range of colors is found in Pakistani carpets, with shades of red and burgundy being the most representative of the Turkmen influence. Carpets are produced with great mastery using a large number of combined colors, both in their multiple borders and in their intricate central geometric figures. Natural pigments extracted from plants, barks, insects, or minerals are used.

Base

Cotton warp and weft. The asymmetric knot is the most commonly used. The higher or lower number of knots in a piece can be easily distinguished based on the thickness of the fringe.