Agra, in northern India, was one of the most important centers of Mughal carpet production from the sixteenth century onward. Under the patronage of the Mughal emperors — particularly Akbar and his successors — Agra workshops produced carpets of extraordinary scale and refinement, drawing on Persian classical design while introducing a distinctly Indian sensibility in their drawing and color.

Antique Agra rugs from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are especially valued for their large, open fields, generous use of ivory and soft indigo, and spaciously drawn floral lattices. Their wool pile has a characteristic lustre; the foundation is cotton. They respond beautifully to contemporary interiors, where their generous proportions and relaxed formality make them equally suited to grand rooms and relaxed spaces.