Kal Baffi–Kashmir’s tradition of hand-knotted carpets in silk and wool–goes back to the 15th century, with links to the famed carpets of Persia. They feature floral and arabesque patterns, some of which draw from the Persian idiom, while others feature local Kashmiri flora and fauna in delicate hues.
Kashmiri hand-knotted carpets use the Persian knot, which is tied in rows around consecutive warp threads. A wooden or metal comb is used for tightening these knots, which are asymmetrical. This allows for softer lines that combine to form the flowing, curvilinear patterns for which Kashmiri carpets are known. Silk carpets with more than 600 knots per square inch (KPSI) are categorised as high quality, and anything beyond 1000 KPSI is considered extremely fine. This carpet features 1156 knots per square inch.
Artist
Gulam Rasool Bhat and Gulam Mohammad Koandu
Kashmir
Sri Gulam Rasool Bhat and Sri Gulam Mohammad Koandu, master weavers from Srinagar, are the custodians of an age-old technique that combines artistic talent with painstaking expertise. They have been making hand-knotted carpets for more than 65 years. The knot density of their carpets, which ranges from 600 to 1600 knots per square inch, demonstrates their accuracy and expertise.
The Craft
Kal Baffi
Silk and woollen carpets from Kashmir are considered to be some of the world’s finest handcrafted heirlooms. Nimble-fingered craftsmen from the Valley work their magic as they sit at their looms.
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