Antique 17th Century Esfahan Persian Rug 3338

Antique Isfahan from Central Persia, 17th century A grand floral composition graces the field of this masterpiece of Classical Persian weaving.  Flowering vines and palmettes undulate outward to the sides up the length of the field in harmonious bilateral symmetry. Time has turned the magenta ground a deep rose lavender, but it still provides a lovely setting for the soft green and golden tones used to render the vines and the animals that frollick amidst them. The border is quite extraordinary, consisting as it does of cartouches made up of floral bouquets. The dominant green of these cartouches contrasts nicely with the lavender and tan viney mesh that comprises the background of the border. The minor borders of stepped half-rosettes look almost lacelike in their delicate precision.  Classical Persian carpets are often standard in their design, however impressive they may be. This one, however, has a uniqueness that is very hard to come by in carpets of this age and style.