Created for the connoisseur

FABLES, FOLKLORE and flowers, frolicking animals and nature's ineffable lyricism, images of a wondrous paradise or as a touchstone of philosophy: man has, through time, woven, stitched together and embroidered these images on carpets which have become a synonym for beauty. And none more than the purely hand- embroidered rugs of Kashmir which use swirls of closely worked chain stitch to create exquisite forms which literally put a weave to shame! A 16th Century craft which flourished in Emperor Akbar's karkhanas, the "crewel" embroidered carpet of Kashmir had all but disappeared by mid-20th Century. It was art lover Tariq Kathwari's dedication and passion, which led to its revival in the 70s, in a much `finer' avatar and in a host of abstract designs as well as reproductions of anything from as Tariq puts it " a Gauguin to a Picasso, French Aubusson carpets, the Tiger carpets of Tibet or Persian inspired motifs!" Today, Tariq Kathwari's superbly embroidered cotton and silk carpets find pride of place at the Smithsonian, Galleries Lafayette, Paris, with Ralph Lauren and in the private collections of European royalty and collectors the world over.

And now Kathwari brings to Chennai his specially designed tribal inspired embroidered carpets. The theme is tribal Caucasian, Mexican Inca, Indian Navajo or Baluchi and Central Asian. Strong colours and formats with geometrical patterns, ikkat - like zig zags and colourful stripes distinguish the cotton rugs which are mostly a magical melange of maroons, blues, reds and whites. In many of the carpets the background embroidery creates dense near- woven surfaces against which the vibrant motifs seem almost three-dimensional. In others the tightly packed symbolic- geometric patterns stand out like beautifully crafted jewellery...

The crewel embroidered rugs include reproductions of Navajo carpets with their stripes and perfect geometrical compositions in maroon, red, blue and black.

The rich and sombre Baluch rugs in deep tones of red and blue with floral-geometric motifs as well as a range of Caucasian- inspired tribal rugs form the rich tapestry of the Kathwari collection. While the carpet connoisseur might be able to distinguish the motif of Mexican Inca rug from that of the Caucasian Kazar, Kuba or Karabagh rug, for the lay person the rugs seem to be rich in colour and strong in format with a magical juxtapositioning of motifs against compelling backgrounds. The embroidery is done in wool on cotton rugs, which have a canvas backing.

The carpets and wall hangings are created in Srinagar at Tariq Kathwari's unit. They come in varying sizes from 2ft by 3ft to 3ft by 5ft and 6ft by 4ft. The collection also includes 6ft by 2ft runners and richly embroidered cushion covers. Orders can be placed with Tariq who will be accompanying the exhibition of his collection, which opens on October 26 at Fabindia, Ilford House, Woods Road, off Anna Salai. The exhibition-cum-sale concludes on October 28.

PUSHPA CHARI

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