POSSIBLY TABRIZ, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY

This kilim draws inspiration from the flatwoven carpets made during the Safavid period in Iran. Perhaps the largest and most impressive known example in a Western collection is that in the Residenz Museum, Munich (A.U. Pope, A Survey of Persian Art, Oxford, 1938, pl.1265). Others are in the Textile Museum, Washington D.C. (acc.no.R33.28.1) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (acc.no.51.197). An example which had been part of a Rothschild collection was sold in these Rooms, 8 July 1999, lot 189.

Most examples of Safavid kilims have designs based around a single central medallion, generally with a field populated by peris, animal combat groups, and mythical creatures. A small group, however, instead consist of a number of smaller panels. Examples of this type include those in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (acc.no.718-1899), the Hermitage, St Petersburg (acc.no.VT-1010), National Museums Scotland (acc.no.A.1899.139) and the Dresden Kunsthandwerk Museum (acc.no.28233), as well as fragments adapted into a coat in the Royal Collection in Bikaner, India. Though these are all dated to the 16th century in their respective museum inventories, a similar fragment was chemically tested and the results suggested that they are 19th century in date.

This example is certainly later in date, and its drawing is larger in scale than those Safavid examples, and it is predominantly woven in wool rather than silk giving it a heavier feel. The drawing in the panels in the upper corners is closer in style to the bold grotesque motifs on a Mughal carpet which survives today in fragments, one of which is in the Burrell Art Museum, Glasgow (acc.no.H16) and another which was sold in these Rooms, 18 October 1994, lot 569.