79523 Antique Persian Mahal Rug, 13'00 x 19'08.
The Rosette Court: A Late 19th Century Persian Mahal Masterpiece of Botanical Grace
This hand-knotted wool antique Persian Mahal rug from the late 19th century represents one of the most refined expressions of Persia’s grand decorative weaving tradition. Woven during a period when Mahal carpets were prized by aristocratic households and Western collectors alike, this piece was conceived not as a utilitarian floor covering, but as a statement of cultivated taste and architectural presence. Its generous scale and assured composition speak to a time when rugs were commissioned to anchor formal salons, libraries, and reception rooms with quiet authority and enduring prestige.
At the heart of the composition lies a beautifully articulated cusped lozenge medallion, softly contoured and harmoniously integrated into the surrounding field. This Mahal interpretation feels organic and expansive, allowing the central form to dissolve gently into the surrounding floral lattice. The red field is animated by an intricate network of stylized botanicals—rosettes, palmettes, curling vines, and flowering tendrils—arranged with a painterly rhythm that balances symmetry with fluid movement.
The corner spandrels echo the geometry and floral vocabulary of the central medallion, creating a sense of architectural cohesion across the entire surface. These spandrels are richly layered, mirroring the cusped contours and botanical motifs found at the center, a hallmark of high-quality Mahal weaving. Framing the exceptional composition is an elaborate botanical border, its scrolling floral forms unfolding with measured elegance and flanked by a series of finely drawn inner and outer guard bands that lend depth, structure, and ceremonial framing to the rug as a whole.
Today, this exquisite work of art reads as both stately and timeless—an heirloom textile that elevates refined traditional interiors while lending gravitas to eclectic and transitional spaces. Its softened palette, noble red ground, and masterfully balanced ornamentation create an atmosphere of cultivated warmth and historical depth. For collectors and designers drawn to authenticity, scale, and quiet grandeur, this extraordinary masterpiece offers not merely decoration, but a living artifact of Persian artistry—one that confers distinction, permanence, and unmistakable status.
- Abrash.
- Hand knotted wool.
- Made in Iran.
- Measures: 13'00 x 19'08.
- Pile Height: 0.18 of an inch.
- Date: 1880's. Late 19th Century.
