| Antique Sultanabad Persian Carpet, mid 19th century
This lovely little rug is a 'wagireh' or sampler, a pattern piece used by weavers to generate the design of a larger rug. The lower left corner is one quarter of the central medallion, while the remaining white ground area would be repeated counter-clockwise to produce the field. The borders of the rug would ostensibly come from another model or wagireh. This example is notable for the fluidity and delicacy of its drawing, and for the exceptional quality of its soft yet rich, clear color. The asymmetry of the design is an intrinsic part of its charm.
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