79672 Antique Persian Sultanabad Rug, 14'05 x 21'00.
The Imperial Garden: A Late 19th Century Persian Sultanabad Masterpiece of Grace
This hand-knotted wool antique Persian Sultanabad rug, woven in the Late 19th Century, is a magnificent expression of the grand decorative vision that made Sultanabad carpets among the most coveted weavings of the Persian export ateliers. Created during a period when the great weaving centers of western Persia were producing carpets for aristocratic residences and distinguished European interiors, this exquisite work of art possesses an unmistakable sense of cultivated prestige. Its monumental scale and richly orchestrated composition evoke the atmosphere of a stately salon, where history, connoisseurship, and timeless refinement converge.
The crimson-red field unfolds in a breathtaking allover composition of scrolling rinceaux, acanthus arabesques, rosettes, and stylized Shah Abbas palmettes, arranged across an elegant lattice that seems to bloom infinitely across the surface. Graceful ivory vine tracery winds through the field like the pathways of a formal Persian paradise garden, linking floral medallions, blossoming lotus forms, and serrated botanical sprays into a continuous rhythmic tableau. The rosettes symbolize harmony and celestial order, while the Shah Abbas palmettes, descended from Safavid court design, speak to sovereignty, abundance, and eternal flourishing. The acanthus-like scrolls lend a sculptural fluidity, their curling movement suggesting vitality, renewal, and the enduring cycle of life.
Throughout the field, the interplay of iconic floral forms reveals remarkable complexity: lotus blossoms signifying immortality and rebirth, peony-like palmettes evoking nobility and power, delicate tulip sprays symbolizing prosperity, and finely drawn leaves representing endless regeneration. The interconnected vine system creates the impression of a living garden viewed from above, a unrivaled vision of paradise rendered in wool. This continuous botanical network is one of the hallmarks of the finest Sultanabad carpets, where spacious drawing and lyrical ornamentation combine to create a sense of effortless grandeur.
Framing this extraordinary masterpiece is a sumptuous rosette and Shah Abbas palmette border, richly articulated in sapphire blue and enclosed by double guard borders that provide a measured architectural cadence. The border functions as a ceremonial frame, much like carved moldings surrounding a great painting, lending structure and gravitas to the vibrant field. This is a stunning carpet of unmistakable pedigree—an heirloom-caliber textile that brings historical depth, social prestige, and decorative authority to interiors ranging from English Country House and Old World classical settings to thoughtfully layered contemporary spaces seeking legacy and distinction.
- Abrash.
- Hand knotted wool.
- Made in Iran.
- Measures: 14'05 x 21'00.
- Pile Height: 0.19 of an inch.
- Date: 1880's. Late 19th Century.
