Dhurrie: Flatwoven Rugs of India

Largely unappreciated, traditional flatwoven Indian dhurries have long been overshadowed by luxuriant Mughal pile carpets. Dhurrie, the first comprehensive book on these ancient flatwoven rugs, presents the dhurrie as a significant floor covering from the Indian subcontinent. Transcending social boundaries, the dhurrie was used by commoner and royalty alike: At its simplest it was a multi-purpose textile used as floor covering, bedding or packaging, while at its most elaborate – woven with the finest fibres and enhanced by goldwrapped thread – it graced the palaces of royalty. These book traces the dhurrie’s past : From the shadows of prehistoric India, the lavish Mughal courts and the bustling commerce of British India, to the present day. It catalogues nearly a hundred old dhurries, including traditional prayer rugs with domed mosques, dhurries with classic stripes and ornate geometrical designs as well as a collection of the most beautiful pictorial flatweaves. Dhurrie also introduces the weavers of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, and is a guide to the dhurrie’s many stages of development: from the selection and dyeing of yarn to the actual processes of weaving, washing and finishing. Having revitalised the dying craft of dhurrie weaving, Shyam Ahuja – whose name is synonymous with the modern Indian dhurrie – describes his intense involvement with this flatwoven rug. Drawing inspiration from sources as unexpected and diverse as a Versailles ceiling, the Scottish tartan and the traditional Indian paisley, he presents a selection of his favourite designs. Exhaustively researched and abundantly illustrated with over 300 colour pictures, Dhurrie documents the history and development of India’s flatwoven rugs.