Extremely fine small Indian Pictorial Rug (15 x 15 knots per sqcm)
55 x 46 cm (1' 10" x 1' 6")
India, 1936
Condition: good according to age, several small moth damages, otherwise full pile
Warp: cotton, weft: cotton, pile: wool

Lot 176 and 177:
These intriguing, very special weavings of incredible finesse were published by Gans-Ruedin in 'The Indian Carpet' p 171/2 and 156/7, which illustrates nine in total, possibly a special commissioned set.
He writes that they were woven in Kashmir in 1936. However, it seems that is unlikely that they could have been woven in one year as they all come from the same workshop. Maybe the year given is the start or the end of the process.
Due to them all being roughly the same size, extremely fine and having the same color palette, the assumption of a single workshop seems justified.
All but one show Hindu related scenes. In the first here, Brahma with four faces is born out of a red lotus which sprouts out of Vishnu's navel. Vishnu himself is reclining on the snake Sheshanaga, while his wife Lakshmi sits at his feet.
The other miniature shows Shakyamuni the founder of Buddhism on a lotus throne. He is covered by a parasol and above is a monogram formed out of the four initial letters of the Buddhist prayer Om mani padme hum. These are remarkable artefacts of unique rarity combining superb craftsmanship with spiritual meaning.