The Fremlin Carpet
Carpet
ca. 1640 (made)
ca. 1640 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Mughal carpets with animal scenes in the field are not uncommon, but this one is unique because it has the coat-of-arms of the Fremlin family incorporated into the field and borders. It was commissioned by William Fremlin who served in India as an official of the East India Company from 1626-44, and who ended his career there as President of the Council of Surat. It is likely that the carpet was made towards the end of his career, probably in Lahore (today in Pakistan), which was a known centre of carpet production at the time.
The Fremlin coat of arms includes an elephant as its crest, but this does not appear to be connected with William's career in India, as the arms were first granted to the family in 1567.
The Fremlin coat of arms includes an elephant as its crest, but this does not appear to be connected with William's career in India, as the arms were first granted to the family in 1567.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Fremlin Carpet (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Woollen pile on cotton |
| Brief description | Woollen pile carpet 'The Fremlin Carpet', probably made in Lahore, ca. 1640 |
| Physical description | Woollen pile carpet bearing the Fremlin coat-of-arms. The ground is red with a deep blue border. The pattern consists of floral, animal and bird motives interspersed with the coat-of-arms both in the main field and in the border. Cotton warp and weft. Sehna knotting with three shots of weft between each line of knots. About 224 knots per square inch (16 knots per warp inch; 14 knots per weft inch). Warp Z6S (or in some places Z5S), weft Z3S. In colours of white, red, blue, brown, green and yellow. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Purchased with Art Fund support and assistance from Mr Frank Fremlin |
| Object history | The Fremlin carpet which probably served as a table cover was made for William Fremlin, a servant of the East India Company between 1626 and 1644. and was probably made for him after 1637, when he became President of the Council at Surat. The family coat-of-arms appears both in the main field and in the border. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Mughal carpets with animal scenes in the field are not uncommon, but this one is unique because it has the coat-of-arms of the Fremlin family incorporated into the field and borders. It was commissioned by William Fremlin who served in India as an official of the East India Company from 1626-44, and who ended his career there as President of the Council of Surat. It is likely that the carpet was made towards the end of his career, probably in Lahore (today in Pakistan), which was a known centre of carpet production at the time. The Fremlin coat of arms includes an elephant as its crest, but this does not appear to be connected with William's career in India, as the arms were first granted to the family in 1567. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.1-1936 |
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| Record created | February 7, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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