Oriental - Indian Furniture

Traditional Indian homes have very little furniture by European standards - carpets and cushions are spread on the floor, small tables also served as stools and chests were used to store clothes.

European colonists brought with the a demand for European style furniture and Indian craftsmen began producing items based on English, Dutch and Portuguese models.

Indian woods, such as teak, rosewood and sandalwood were used with metal or ivory mounts. Since glue dried out in the tropical heat, wood or ivory pegs were used to assemble the pieces. Cane was often used rather than cushions because it is cooler.

Read the rest of this entry »

 
 
 

Fabrics - Rugs - Indian

The Indian Mogul emperors of the 16th and 17th centuries imported not only Persian carpets but their weavers as well. These produced finely woven floral and hunting rugs.

These weavers also made rugs for export, some incorporating European coats of arms. However, exports on a large scale began only at the end of the nineteenth century. These rugs may imitate almost any style but Turkish designs are the most common. The rugs are often made to a price with the cheapest combining jute with wool - the result being a very coarse and stiff pile.

Mogul Indian rug

Read the rest of this entry »