Carpet with Niche and Flower Design
Unknown Artist
This weaving is part of a group that uses the most popular motif of the emperor Shah Jahan’s reign: the single flowering plant, in this case a poppy, set within a niche. The similarity of their design to tent panels with niches and to hangings shown in royal audience scenes suggests that they were hung vertically rather than being placed on the floor.
Credit: Bequest of Joseph V. McMullan, 1973
Mid-17th century
Cotton (warp and weft), silk (weft), wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
154.9in
1974.149.2
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019
Where you'll find this
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection