79677 Antique Persian Serapi Rug, 12'00 x 18'04.
The Regal Crown: A Late 19th Century Persian Serapi Masterpiece of Distinction
Woven in the Late 19th Century, this hand-knotted wool antique Persian Serapi rug is a commanding testament to the grandeur of northwest Persian weaving at its most coveted. Serapi carpets from this era are celebrated for their noble scale, architectural drawing, and enduring presence—treasures once destined for distinguished estates and formal reception rooms. This remarkable example possesses the unmistakable authority of a legacy piece, where every line and color speaks to connoisseurship, cultivated taste, and a life surrounded by objects of consequence. It offers an atmosphere of prestige that transforms an interior into something ceremonial and deeply storied.
At the heart of the exceptional composition lies a stunning octofoil medallion, a classic emblem of celestial harmony and sovereign order. Rendered in deep navy and antique gold tones, the medallion is centered by a radiant rosette, symbolizing wholeness, cosmic balance, and eternal continuity. Surrounding it, one finds angular vines, tulip forms, lotus blossoms, palmettes, and stylized leaves, each woven in the disciplined geometric language for which Serapi rugs are revered. The lotus signifies rebirth and immortality, while the tulip speaks to prosperity and abundance, long cherished symbols in Persian decorative arts. The entire medallion is outlined in verdigris acanthus, its serrated foliage suggesting perpetual regeneration and aristocratic refinement, and is anchored by flaming palmette pendants at either end—torch-like botanical finials that evoke vitality, ascent, and enduring power.
The sumptuous red field unfolds like a regal Persian garden translated into bold architectural form. Throughout the field, stylized florals, rosettes, branching leaves, boteh-like sprouts, and angular botanical tracery radiate outward from the center in poised symmetry. These iconic motifs are rich with symbolic meaning: rosettes for harmony and nobility, leaves for renewal, palmettes for abundance, and branching stems for the Tree of Life’s promise of continuity. The field’s stepped and hooked floral devices create a sense of living movement, as though the garden is perpetually unfolding across the pile. The corner spandrels in ivory, red, and blue, outlined with verdigris acanthus, echo these same floral and foliate elements, creating a seamless dialogue between center and perimeter while reinforcing the composition’s stately balance.
Encasing the field is a magnificent Herati rosette border, one of the most distinguished frames in Persian carpet design. Its repeating rosettes and angular fish-leaf forms traditionally symbolize water, fertility, and the eternal garden, an emblem of cultivated life and prosperity. The double floral meander guard borders refine the outer architecture with a lyrical rhythm, lending the exquisite work of art a sense of ceremonious completion. This extraordinary masterpiece is perfectly suited for interiors seeking Old World grandeur, Jacobean richness, English country sophistication, Baroque drama, or a refined contemporary setting that values historic gravitas. More than a furnishing, it is an heirloom of stature—an object that conveys lineage, rarity, and an unmistakable sense of distinction.
- Abrash.
- Hand knotted wool.
- Made in Iran.
- Measures: 12'00 x 18'04.
- Pile Height: 0.27 of an inch.
- Date: 1880's. Late 19th Century.
