INDO-ESFAHAN CARPET

also spelled Indo-isfahan, type of floor covering ranging from small to extremely large, handmade in India, primarily in the 17th century, as free imitations of Herat designs (see Herat carpet). The name Esfahan was applied in the belief that Persian carpets sold better than Indian. They appear to have been exported in quantity to Europe, especially to Portugal and the Low Countries, by the various East India companies and are frequently seen in 17th-century Dutch paintings. The usual field design consists of elaborate vine-leaf and floral palmettes in pairs, pointing in opposite directions and connected by scrolling vines, together with curving, feathery lancet leaves, cloud bands, and a host of small floral motifs on a ground of slightly purplish wine red. A blue or blue-green border often shows similar palmettes placed transversely in alternation with groups of five small palmettes. These carpets may have been made in Agra, where similar ones were still being produced in the 19th century. More fanciful patterns may have been produced in the Deccan and not exported. The borders introduce varied arrangements of arabesques and of lancet leaves. The term Indo-Esfahan has also been used for a group of 19th-century Indian carpets with rather arid and impoverished patterns derived from those of the 17th century.