Our story
November 26, 2021 2023-08-07 6:37Our story
Behind our hand-knotted carpets
The Carpet Cellar was founded by the late Sheel Chandra, who was one of India’s most renowned collectors of carpets and textiles. Famous for his discerning eye and ability to trace and uncover antique treasures, Mr. Chandra was also known around the world for his private collection of Palatial Persian carpets – a lifelong labour of love for him.
Hand-knotted carpets - A legacy of preservation and history
Prior to the inception of The Carpet Cellar, the Chandra family enterprise dealt in the import of luxurious cashmere, wool, and pashmina. It was during this time that the traditional techniques of crafting, weaving, dyeing, and knotting were fast giving way to the newer, machine-made tufted rugs.
With his deep knowledge of textiles, his connections in the trade, and his partiality for antique designs, Sheel Chandra was in a prime position to employ classically trained artisans in the hand-knotted carpets trade and provide them access to the finest raw materials. He founded The Carpet Cellar to revive unique skills and to preserve centuries-old art forms for future generations.
We are a family-run brand with an expertise that goes back four decades. Our legacy and experience make us one of the most authoritative brands on carpets and rugs India online and offline, but we believe that we are defined by our passion for sourcing and collecting some of the most exquisite pieces of floor art in the world.
A hub of craftsmanship and art
The Carpet Cellar is an online and offline retailer of premium hand-knotted carpets from around the world. We believe in collecting and preserving vintage pieces, but also recreating gorgeous antique designs using authentic techniques and sustainable practices, so that new generations of enthusiasts can own and enjoy these carpets.
Over the last four decades, The Carpet Cellar has amassed one of the best collections of rugs India online and in-store. The collection comprises of antique and vintage hand-knotted carpets sourced from Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkey, as well as Morocco, Egypt, and the former Soviet Union. There is also an extensive array of modern recreations that are inspired by famous schools of design or individual artists.
Sustainability and preservation – Cornerstones of our company
One of our chief priorities is to be ethically responsible, whether in our sourcing, production or usage. As a brand, it is The Carpet Cellar’s conscious decision to periodically review and improve in these three areas.
We know that nothing stands the test of time better than natural raw materials, when properly looked after. The antique pieces in our collection are testament to this, and so we base all our sourcing decisions on this.
Our production techniques are thoughtful, gentle, and respectful to the environment and to the beautiful wools and silks we work with. We use sustainable age-old techniques, ASO-free dyes, and are proud of our lower water consumption, thanks to the quality of the material.
Our customers enjoy the benefits of these principles – the natural longevity of our hand-knotted carpets comes from robust materials and time-tested techniques. Your carpets are made to last for 50 years or more, significantly longer than machine-made or tufted rugs.
The Carpet Cellar today – A committed purveyor of rugs India online
The Carpet Cellar has collaborated with eminent museums from around the world, and has been featured in several publications. We have also participated in various art and design fairs and been a part of premier displays of private collections. Our physical stores are landmarks in the art connoisseur circles and are frequented by astute collectors looking for their next acquisition.
When you buy rugs India online or offline from The Carpet Cellar, we provide certificates of authenticity to track genealogy of hand-knotted carpets, as well as approximate age and design details. But selling carpets is not our sole purpose – visitors and browsing aficionados come to The Carpet Cellar to admire the collection, discover inspiration from bygone civilizations and artists, and often times, leave with their own piece of history.