3 x 5 - Red Antique Persian Lilihan Rug - 79816

79816 Antique Persian Lilihan Rug, 03'06 x 04'07.

The Aristocrat's Garden: An Antique Persian Lilihan Masterpiece of Rare Beauty

This hand-knotted wool antique Persian Lilihan rug from the early 20th century possesses the spirited floral character and intimate scale that make village weavings so appealing to discerning collectors. A sumptuous burgundy red field serves as the backdrop for an exuberant arrangement of oversized blossoms, angular foliage, curling tendrils, and stylized palmettes. Deep indigo, muted azure, and warm tan create a sophisticated palette whose time-softened character lends the piece the unmistakable presence of a striking masterwork intended for an elegant interior.

The field is organized around a striking vertical axis of radiating rosettes and palmette-like floral forms, surrounded by scrolling leaves and smaller geometric blossoms. Rosettes traditionally evoke beauty and the cyclical continuity of life, while unfolding flowers suggest growth and abundance. Prominent serrated leaves introduce movement through their sweeping contours, their recurrent leafy forms carrying associations with regeneration. The freer drawing is especially characteristic of the charm found in Lilihan weaving, where established Persian garden vocabulary was interpreted with expressive individuality.

Among the most captivating details are the large curled palmettes positioned toward the corners, their pronounced outlines directing the eye inward toward the central floral progression. Smaller blossoms branch outward across the crimson ground, creating the impression of an idealized garden flourishing in perpetual bloom. This abundant vegetation speaks to a longstanding Persian fascination with paradise imagery—the cultivated garden as a place of prosperity, harmony, and earthly splendor. Its generous scale of ornament gives this extraordinary masterpiece a confident decorative presence while preserving the warmth of its village origins.

A handsome floral meander border encloses the exceptional composition in a continuous procession of blossoms and leafy vines, providing a rhythmic frame for the vigorous interior. It is flanked by boteh guard borders, whose repeating curved forms carry one of Persia's most enduring symbols, historically associated with life, continuity, and the universe. Together, these layered borders create a protective ornamental enclosure around the flourishing field. Rich in symbolism, beautifully aged, and unmistakably individual, this antique Lilihan offers the privileged experience of owning an exquisite work of art whose character lies in its artistry, cultural heritage, and singular hand.

• Abrash.
• Hand knotted wool.
• Made in Iran.
• Measures: 03'06 x 04'07.
• Pile Height: 0.20 of an inch.
• Date: 1920's. Early 20th Century.