Few things are more reminiscent of India than an exquisitely crafted rug such as this one. Handpicked from the recesses of Kashmir, it is made from pure homegrown cotton, which means it is a sturdy, long-lasting piece of home decor. The foundation is an inky black colour, but the same is luxuriantly superimposed with paisleys. Paisleys are a quintessentially Indian motif used liberally across the arts and crafts of the subcontinent, and the handpicked rug you see on this page is no exception. The field comprises of high-precision rows of paisleys, hemmed in by a narrow ivory strip embroidered with miniscule ones, which is followed by a band of more paisleys similar to the ones on the field.

These paisleys are knotted from the endemic resham (silk) produced in the region. It is a process done entirely by hand, the skill for which is to be found almost exclusively in Kashmir. A limited colour palette of two, perhaps three, basic pastels and an intense texture characterise this knotted paisleys rug. The quality is such as to last generations of your family - in fact, this one-of-a-kind rug is just the thing to become an heirloom. Miniscule paisleys against the ivory strip further hems in the outer panels of multidirectional paisleys. Note how the dense white tassels along the edge of the rug add an earthy touch to this work of art.