CENTRAL PERSIA, CIRCA 1930

This unusual Kashan carpet is a deviation of typical Kashan designs from the early 20th century which tend to have dense, naturalistic floral designs in a wide range of colors, predominantly reds and blues. The simple design used in this carpet of white six-petal flowerheads staggered on a deep indigo field is further uncomplicated by a solid sky blue border. The sparseness of the design is reminiscent of Chinese carpets, particularly Peking carpets from the same time period. There are few, if any, other Kashan examples with a comparable design and it is probable that this was a special commission from an upper class Persian since anything Chinese or exotic was in vogue in the early 20th century.