NORTH WEST PERSIA, MID 19TH CENTURY

The knot count measures approximately 10V x 11H knots per cm. sq.

The flexible structure, rich colours, and fine drawing of this rug distinguish it as a fine, early product of the Heriz workshops. This is further indicated by the metal-thread finishes which remain at either end of the rug. Two early silk rugs from the collection of James D. Burns may be compared with our example. One of them has an inscriptional cartouche dating the rug to AH 1238⁄1822-3 AD, Visions of Nature: the Antique weavings of Persia, New York, 2010, p.75, no.17 . That inscription also identifies the weaver as Maqsud Kashani, the same name as the weaver of the sixteenth-century Ardabil Carpets.

Points of similarity between Burns' carpet and ours include a similar palette, a design structured around split palmettes decorated with spots. The open central medallion on our rug, however, finds a closer parallel in another rug from his collection, no.18, which also has rather square proportions like our rug. A further example which may belong to the group, of waq waq design but with similar colouring and metal-thread selvages, was part of the collection of Vojtech Blau, sold Sotheby's New York, 14 December 2006, lot 23.