Antique Shahsavan, Persia, nineeenth century
A vertical series of diamond shaped latchhook medallions floats across a long open camel ground field on this arrestingly simple and bold antique Shahsavan. Two large zig-zags at either edge and a few tiny diamonds at the top are the only other motifs in the field. Two simple borders filled by a series of geometric motifs frame the entire composition with an emphatic spareness. It is color rather than design complexity that provides the interest of this powerful example of tribal weaving, whose streamlined appeal is remarkably modern.
