Lot Essay
The inscription panel reads: "karkhaneh (workshop) of (?)Arghand, 1294". Another example with almost identical signature but with the added name of Ja'far and dated two years later, was sold at Sotheby's, 23 April 1997, lot 108.
The date of both carpets is somewhat earlier than present scholarship would at first have thought. There has been no alteration in the date cartouche, making it probable that many Meshed carpets are dated slightly too conservatively in the available literature.
The date of both carpets is somewhat earlier than present scholarship would at first have thought. There has been no alteration in the date cartouche, making it probable that many Meshed carpets are dated slightly too conservatively in the available literature.