The Mongols are famous, or perhaps infamous, for having brought Islamic
culture in Central Asia, Iran, and Mesopotamia to the brink of destruction
in the thirteenth century. But by the early fourteenth century, the Ilkhanid
Mongol rulers, newly converted to Islam, had become great patrons of the
arts. The illuminated scroll of Lady Wen Chi in the Metropolitan Museum of
Art depicts a nomadic Mongol encampment in which various small rugs are
clearly indicated. Since this scroll shows the Mongols as a people whose
culture had traditionally prized and produced rugs, it therefore seems very
likely that they would have supported the production of fine carpets in
their new role as Islamic rulers and art patrons. Unfortunately, no Ilkhanid
carpet or fragment has yet come to light.
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Depiction of 13th century Mongol Rug from Scroll of Lady Wen Chi, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (from V. Gantzhorn, Oriental Carpets, ill. 200).
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