THE FIELD DESIGN OF THIS UNUSUAL CARPET IS TAKEN FROM THE FLATWOVEN SUMMER CARPETS (JAJIM) WHICH WERE VERY POPULAR IN PERSIA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTUIRY. THEY ARE OFTEN SEEN USED AS THE FLOOR COVERINGS IN PORTRAITS OF IMPORTANT PEOPLE OF THE TIME, SUCH AS A PORTRAIT OF PRINCE ARDASHIR MIRZA BY ABU'L-HASAN GHAFFARI NAQQASH BASHI, DATED 1852-3 AD, SOLD IN THESE ROOMS 11 OCTOBER 1988, LOT 24 AND NOW IN THE HASHEM KHOSROVANI QAJAR COLLECTION (DIBA, LAYLA S.: ROYAL PERSIAN PAINTINGS, EXHIBITION CATALOGUE, NEW YORK, 1998, NO.79, P.250).