Beautiful Red Antique 17th Century Northwest Persian Animal Rug, Country of Origin: Persia, Circa Date: 17th Century – Since the 1500s, the weavers of Northwestern Persia have woven rugs of superior artistry and quality. This carpet is an exquisite example and a rare piece from the 17th century. This carpet is in excellent condition for its age and a magnificent historically significant piece.
The looms of Northwest Persia were not the most prolific, but they were known for pieces of superior design and artistry, such as this example. Some of the most elegant and famous rugs in the world came from this region. This piece features a classic design, traditional motifs, and it has an elegance that makes it stand out.
The design of this piece is based on a classic design and might have been the work of or a formal city loom, but it also shows evidence of the work of a smaller village or rural area. The work appears to have been produced with at least some form of cartoon or pattern involved. The carpet has several pattern repeats, but the pattern seems to have been flipped at the top of the rug, rather than in the center, as one would expect in a city carpet.
The motifs include classic designs such as palmettes, cloud bands, and other familiar florals. These elements appear to have been carried out with precision and according to a predetermined design. However, if you look closely, scattered throughout the design, you can find stylized representations of animals, which points to a more artistic, individualized design as you would expect from a village carpet. It is as if the weaver decided to place these elements within the design as a matter of artistic choice. You can find birds, gazelles, and leopards throughout the design.
This is a captivating piece of art and an excellent example of 17th-century carpet weaving. Rugs such as this have found their way into formal estates and collections throughout history. It is a fascinating antique rug because it has both formal elements and evidence of the individual artistic choices of the weaver. This is a beautiful and rare find for any collection.