78141 Antique Persian Lilihan Runner, 02'08 x 08'05.
The Crimson Garden: An Antique Persian Lilihan Masterpiece of Floral Grandeur
This exquisite hand-knotted wool Persian Lilihan runner embodies the romantic splendor and cultivated refinement of Central Iran’s most admired village work. Its commanding crimson field, softened by generations of gentle wear, reads like a grand botanical tapestry—lush, intricate, and unabashedly opulent. Lilihan weavers were renowned for their floral virtuosity, and here that heritage reaches an apex: dense clusters of stylized blossoms and leafy fronds unfurl across the surface with a painterly cadence, evoking the richly landscaped gardens prized by the Qajar courts. Every precious inch of the field is alive with color and nuance, celebrating the Lilihan tradition at its most majestic.
At the heart of this jewel lies an alternating procession of radiant floral medallions, each one articulated with extraordinary symmetry and grace. Their petal pinks, walnut browns, ghosted verdigris, and midnight accents create a sophisticated palette—tempered, never brash, and steeped in the erudite restraint that discerning collectors favor. The abundance of tiny rosettes, conical florets, and trailing tendrils speaks to an atelier that understood both proportion and elegance, forming a botanical fantasia that rewards extended contemplation. This complexity, balanced so effortlessly, is a hallmark of the finest Lilihan output from the early 20th century.
Encasing this exquisite work of art is a finely articulated border system: a deep cocoa ground inset with meandering sprays of carnations, rose heads, and sinuous vinery. These floral chains act as a ceremonial frame, heightening the prestige of the central field and gifting the rug an aura of noble enclosure. Their rhythmic spacing and exquisitely drawn petals reveal hands practiced in motifs passed down for generations—iconic motifs that carried both aesthetic beauty and deeply woven cultural meaning. In elite interiors, this frame becomes architectural, creating visual thresholds that lend structure, intimacy, and grandeur all at once.
For the connoisseur who values heritage, handwork, and the soft radiance of genuine age, this Lilihan masterpiece stands as a true collectible treasure. Its saturated field, rare level of floral detailing, and aristocratic bearing transcend mere decoration—inviting its owner into the realm of custodianship rather than simple possession. Whether gracing a gallery corridor, a private study, or a curated salon, it brings with it an unspoken promise: that beauty forged by patience, skill, and history will always convey status, and those who live with it are part of an exceptionally refined legacy.
- Rendered in variegated shades of red, dark brown, oxblood red, beige, rose, maroon, and verdigris with other accent colors.
- Abrash. Desirable Age Wear.
- Hand knotted wool.
- Made in Iran.
- Measures: 02'08 x 08'05.
- Pile Height: 0.16 of an inch.
- Date: 1920s. Early 20th Century.
