79211 Late 19th Century Antique Persian Farahan Rug, 08'07 x 11'09.
Woven in the storied heartlands of Persia during the twilight decades of the 19th century, this hand knotted wool antique Persian Farahan rug captures a moment when tradition met poetic sophistication in textile form. At its core unfurls a grand, navy blue medallion, its jagged silhouette ablaze with intricate floral tracery and architectural latticework. The medallion radiates with lotus blossom pendants that anchor the axis of its design, unfurling like sacred blooms from ancient waters. These blossoms, signifying rebirth and divine order, echo the spiritual underpinnings of Persian garden imagery, where paradise was not a myth, but a pattern of repetition and symmetry woven into wool.
Surrounding this central bloom is a field of deep rust red, a backdrop as rich as desert earth after rain. This lovingly time-worn field is densely adorned with a symphony of stylized floral motifs: sinuous vines curl into arabesques, palmettes bloom with regal elegance, and grape clusters spill forth in abundance, symbols of vitality, harvest, and sacred celebration. Delicate foliage dances between each motif with the rhythm of breath, forming a lush and lyrical expanse that evokes the Persian ideal of the eternal garden—a place where nature and spirit are interwoven. The presence of cypress-like forms amid the scrolling vines subtly affirms notions of immortality and continuity across generations.
In each of the Farahan rug’s four corners, tri-colored spandrels introduce a tonal shift—sky blue, beige, and red, creating a delicate transition between the opulent field and the encompassing frame. These spandrels are adorned with angular botanical and architectural motifs, giving the impression of garden alcoves opening onto the central court. Their variegated hues suggest an intentional chromatic meditation, gently guiding the eye toward the inner sanctum while offering respite from the intensity of the red ground. The overall geometry, softened by organic ornamentation, speaks to the Farahan workshop’s finesse in balancing structure with lyricism.
Encircling the composition is a striking lotus and palmette border, where monumental rosettes bloom along a midnight ground. These are not merely decorative but deliberate emblems of serenity and enlightenment, standing like sacred sentinels around the garden within. The main border is flanked by triple meander guard bands—inner and outer—each finely wrought in a rhythmic procession of rosettes, rosettes-within-rosettes, and continuous vine scrolls. These layered boundaries provide a sense of containment and reverence, as if the garden is both offered and protected, held like memory inside a reliquary of knot and dye. Altogether, this antique Farahan rug is not merely a floor covering, but a woven ode to nature, balance, and the enduring spirit of Persian artistic vision.
- Abrash. Age Wear.
- Hand knotted wool.
- Made in Iran.
- Measures: 08'07 x 11'09.
- Pile Height: 0.14 of an inch.
- Date: 1880's. Late 19th Century.
