Antique Tabriz, Persia, 1910s - This sumptuous antique Tabriz recalls the great Persian court carpets of the seventeenth century with its lavish all over design of  More »

Antique Tabriz, Persia, 1910s - This sumptuous antique Tabriz recalls the great Persian court carpets of the seventeenth century with its lavish all over design of vinescrolls and palmettes, surrounded by a lush vinescroll border as well. But the delicate range of colors in cinnamons and pale, watery blues is very different from the vibrant palette of the classical forerunners. Instead, its reserved sensibility has considerable decorative flexibility, adapting the grace and elegance of classic Persian carpets to more modern possibilities. The lustrous wool of the pile sets off the beauty of the design to great effect. Style: Tabriz Origin: Persia Size: 11 ft 09 in x 15 ft (3.58 m x 4.57 m)   « Less

Undulating strapwork fills the ample center of this carpet in the manner of 16th century Persian carpets woven during the Safavid dynasty. Here, too enchanting animals, such  More »

Undulating strapwork fills the ample center of this carpet in the manner of 16th century Persian carpets woven during the Safavid dynasty. Here, too enchanting animals, such as lions and antelope, cavort among verdant vines, leaves and flowers of the field. A broad border encloses the action and its pale hue extends the scale of the carpet to its outer edges, giving it a well-proportioned and subdued frame. The Ivory background predominates, providing a foil for the gold-green medallion. Highlights are rendered in congruent shades of terra cotta, beige and slate gray. Style: Sultanabad Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 09 in x 15 ft (3.28 m x 4.57 m)   « Less

Antique Tabriz, Persia, 1910s - This sumptuous antique Tabriz recalls the great Persian court carpets of the seventeenth century with its lavish all over design of  More »

Antique Tabriz, Persia, 1910s - This sumptuous antique Tabriz recalls the great Persian court carpets of the seventeenth century with its lavish all over design of vinescrolls and palmettes, surrounded by a lush vinescroll border as well. But the delicate range of colors in cinnamons and pale, watery blues is very different from the vibrant palette of the classical forerunners. Instead, its reserved sensibility has considerable decorative flexibility, adapting the grace and elegance of classic Persian carpets to more modern possibilities. The lustrous wool of the pile sets off the beauty of the design to great effect. Style: Tabriz Origin: Persia Size: 11 ft 09 in x 15 ft (3.58 m x 4.57 m)   « Less

Perhaps influenced by the Konaghend rugs produced to the north in the Caucasus, this stunning antique Bakshaish has adapted a classic Persian Herati design in red and gold,  More »

Perhaps influenced by the Konaghend rugs produced to the north in the Caucasus, this stunning antique Bakshaish has adapted a classic Persian Herati design in red and gold, although its classic Persian origin hardly shows through the distinctive Bakshaish taste for bold abstract, geometric stylization. The strongly stylized ‘pseudo-Kufic’ main border with a design adapted from Medieval Islamic calligraphy is simply without parallel among Bakshaish weaving, truly one-of-a-kind. The rather graphic reciprocal minor borders provide the perfect foil for the delicate linearity of the field and main border. The finishing touch is the wonderful palette of soft reds, gold, and watery blue, with its jewel-like quality reminiscent of gold, lapis lazuli, and carnelian. Style: Bakshaish Origin: Persia Size: 12 ft 05 in x 15 ft (3.78 m x 4.57 m)   « Less

Antique Oushak carpet, Turkey, late nineteenth century An ivory hexagonal medallion hovers amidst a rich array of red and saffron palmettes, flowers, and cloudbands, all set  More »

Antique Oushak carpet, Turkey, late nineteenth century An ivory hexagonal medallion hovers amidst a rich array of red and saffron palmettes, flowers, and cloudbands, all set against a variegated soft blue ground, on this magnificent antique Oushak. The ivory medallion is filled by similar forms, as well as by large sickle palmettes and two-headed dragons. Smaller medallions with s-shaped hooks are set against a deep saffron ground to make up the main border, flanked by smaller ivory-ground minor borders. The richness of the color effects is nicely complemented by the soft, lustrous Angora wool pile. Style: Oushak / Ushak Origin: Turkey Size: 12 ft 01 in x 15 ft 01 in (3.68 m x 4.60 m)   « Less

Antique Kashan Carpet, Persia, late nineteenth century The glory of classical Persian rug design comes alive once more in this lavish but stately antique Kashan. A scalloped  More »

Antique Kashan Carpet, Persia, late nineteenth century The glory of classical Persian rug design comes alive once more in this lavish but stately antique Kashan. A scalloped niche or Mihrab with stylized columns to either side frames the field, a classic tree of like design emanating from three trunks at the lower end. The branches sway and bend gracefully across a pale saffron ground, spewing small palmettes, flowers, and leaves as they wend their way across the surface. The spandrels of the arch or Mihrab adapt this elegant design, but with a contrasting dark ground. A delicate, almost lacelike palmette vinescroll set against a red ground frames the field in perfect counterpoint to the grander scale, sweep, and palette of the tree of life design. Style: Kashan Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft x 15 ft 01 in (3.05 m x 4.60 m)   « Less

Antique Tabriz, late nineteenth century - Reminiscent of William Morris textiles, a stunning design of swaying interlaced vines and palmettes in shades of gold and soft blue  More »

Antique Tabriz, late nineteenth century - Reminiscent of William Morris textiles, a stunning design of swaying interlaced vines and palmettes in shades of gold and soft blue repeats against the warm red field of this impressively elegant antique Persian Tabriz. Additional floral sprays fill the intervening areas. The main border adapts these elements as a running pattern while retaining the color scheme of the field. Minor borders of palmettes set against soft blue provide a contrasting frame between the main border and field. Rarely does the interplay between form and color produce such a pleasing result. Style: Tabriz Origin: Persia Size: 11 ft 06 in x 15 ft 02 in (3.51 m x 4.62 m)   « Less

Antique Khorassan Rug, Persia, 1900s Style: Khorassan Origin: Persia Size: 11 ft 05 in x 15 ft 02 in (3.48 m x 4.62 m)

Antique Khorassan Rug, Persia, 1900s Style: Khorassan Origin: Persia Size: 11 ft 05 in x 15 ft 02 in (3.48 m x 4.62 m)   « Less

Antique Heriz-Serapi, Persia, late nineteenth century Antique Serapi carpets of Northwest Persia like this are famed for their reworking of classical Persian medallion  More »

Antique Heriz-Serapi, Persia, late nineteenth century Antique Serapi carpets of Northwest Persia like this are famed for their reworking of classical Persian medallion designs into a more abstract, tribal or village rug idiom, but rarely do they attain the graphic boldness and striking geometry of this dazzling example. Here a stepped medallion filled with angular arabesques floats amidst a rich red field, surrounded by a wide array of highly stylized floral elements. The cool forest green spandrels are filled with similar motifs. A ‘turtle’ vinescroll border set on a pale gold ground offers the perfect frame, reinforced by flanking narrow minor vinescroll borders. The range and saturation of the colors here are superb and exceptional, even among the very best Serapi carpets. Style: Heriz-Serapi Origin: Persia Size: 11 ft 10 in x 15 ft 02 in (3.61 m x 4.62 m)   « Less

Antique Lilihan Rug, Persia, 1910s Style: Lilihan Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft x 15 ft 03 in (3.05 m x 4.65 m)

Antique Lilihan Rug, Persia, 1910s Style: Lilihan Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft x 15 ft 03 in (3.05 m x 4.65 m)   « Less