Carpets and Canopies in Mughal India

Carpets and Canopies in Mughal India showcases portable courtly spaces among nomadic groups, such as the Mongols and Turks of Central Asia. Mughal carpets were not meant to be walked on; instead, they functioned more like furniture, as seats of honor. They also created an intimate space where courtly pleasures were enjoyed. Using silk or pashmina—fine wool yarn made from the coats of Himalayan goats—intricate floral patterns on Mughal carpets evoke the luxury of a garden of paradise. Many of the patterns originated in paintings or manuscript illuminations.