Kirman rug (cotton warp and weft, wool pile), southeastern I - Lot 269

Kirman rug (cotton warp and weft, wool pile), southeastern Iran, circa 1880-1900 360 x 310 This large rug features a burgundy polylobed medallion, extended by two pendants, on an ivory background enhanced by an elegant polychrome stylized floral design. A navy blue border with flower garlands encircles the composition. The town of Kirman is isolated, which prevented it from playing an important role in the Sassanid era, but spared it from pillage by the Mongols. Its name, given in 928, means "place of place of war". Carpet weaving was encouraged during the Sefevid period, but was discontinued with the fall of the dynasty. It only resumed in the 19th century, and the offices of European carpet merchants gradually opened here. Around 1920, the city opened up to the American market. The wool of these carpets, which comes from neighboring towns and sometimes from Khorassan, is soft and white and was hand-twisted until 1950. Kirman is also renowned for its wide variety of hues, with fifteen to thirty different shades. Kirman carpets are often decorated with intricate floral motifs. Bibliography : SABAHI, T - " Splendeurs des tapis d'Orient " - Ed. Atlas, Paris- 1987- p. 165 à 169