NORTH EAST PERSIA, MID-17TH CENTURY

Were it not for the jufti knotting and the soft wool this fragment might be taken for an Isfahan rug. Certainly the colour scheme is directly taken from there. But the design, despite its similar constituent parts comprising spiralling tendrils issuing arabesques and palmettes, is certainly different. While it is difficult to be certain of the whole design from this fragment, it is clear that it involves three overlaid structures, but not in the same mathematical way that the three structures work in the classic 'vase' carpets from Kirman. The system here of bold serrated blue leaves, probably originally forming an ogival lattice, is designed over two separate systems of interlaced scrolling blue and white tendrils. Another unusual feature is that the split palmettes, instead of forming terminals, at times are just elements along the path of a scrolling line which continues from the top of the larger of the two parts.

The pile in this fragment is in very good condition, retaining the lustre and depth of colour from its time of manufacture. This is particularly remarkable in that the red ground has not substiantially corroded.