Introducing Islamic Carpets

By Noorah Al-Gailani

Amongst the wide variety of textiles produced in Islamic lands the hand-knotted pile carpet is the emblematic floor covering for home, palace and mosque, prized for its durability and its aesthetics. The Burrell Collection is home to more than 130 beautiful antique examples, which date from the 1500s to the 1800s and come from a vast and diverse area including the Middle East, Central Asia and northern India.

This book presents 46 highlights from the collection – each illustrated in full colour, many with additional close-up images which reveal charming details. The cultural and historical context in which the carpets were made is described, and weaving techniques are introduced. Themes include the arabesque design, Persian carpets, Mughal India’s carpet tradition, the carpet weaving of the nomadic Turkmen tribes, prayer rugs and the importance of floral and animal motifs.