AZERBAIJAN, SOUTH CAUCASUS, LATE 18TH/EARLY 19TH CENTURY

The striking design of ascending stylised blossoms on the present carpet continues the tradition of earlier sixteenth and seventeenth century Safavid 'Vase' carpets from Kirman. For a detailed summary see May Beattie, Carpets of Central Persia with special reference to Rugs of Kirman, Sheffield and Birmingham exhibition catalogue, Westerham, 1976, no. 56, pp. 80-81.

The soft-textured, fine wool and intensely rich natural dyes are typical of the weavings from the mountainous region near to Lake Urmia in eastern Kurdistan. Designs that employ ascending overall floral motifs continued to be used in this region throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and, according to James Burns, were typical of the reduced production in Persia during this period, (see James D. Burns, Antique Rugs of Kurdistan. A Historical Legacy of Woven Art, London 2002, no.42, pp.146-7).