ISFAHAN, CENTRAL IRAN, FIRST QUARTER 17TH CENTURY

These opulent silk carpets attracted much attention from travellers in Persia throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Often given as gifts throughout the reign of Shah 'Abbas (1587-1628), when their manufacture was at its height, this tradition continued throughout the reigns of Shah Safi (1629-1642) and Shah Abbas II (1642-1674). Members of royalty, visiting dignitaries, merchants and ambassadors, were all recipients which explains why many are still housed today amongst the royal collections, important museums and wealthy private collections of Europe. Their aesthetic descendants were still being made in the reign of Shah Sultan Husayn, judging from the large fragment being offered as lot 54 in this sale.

The layout and design of the present rug is very similar to that of a rug recently sold at Sotheby's New York, 16 December 2005, lot 41.