4 x 6 - Blue Antique Malayer Rug - 61441

61441 Antique Persian Malayer Rug, 04'01 x 06'05.

The Aegean Garden: Late 19th Century Persian Malayer Masterpiece of Refinement

Woven in the final decades of the 19th century, this hand knotted wool antique Persian Malayer rug is a masterwork of village artistry elevated to museum-worthy stature. It reflects a time when weaving was an act of cultural stewardship rather than production. The softly abrashed Aegean blue field—achieved through natural dyes and generations of patient use—creates a depth and movement that only true age can bestow. This is an extraordinary masterpiece shaped by history, not styled by trend.

The exceptional composition unfolds in a rhythmic allover Herati pattern, often referred to as the “fish garden” motif. Each rosette-and-leaf pairing symbolizes harmony, continuity, and protection—an enduring emblem of life’s cyclical balance within Persian visual language. Repeated across the field, the motif creates a meditative cadence, suggesting flowing water and cultivated gardens, themes long associated with prosperity and spiritual order in Iranian art.

Encircling the exclusive field is a richly articulated tribal border that grounds the composition with quiet authority. Double inner guard bands introduce boteh motifs—ancient symbols of renewal and eternal life—interspersed with stylized birds, long revered as messengers between the earthly and the divine. Together, these iconic elements form a protective perimeter, transforming the rug into a symbolic sanctuary as much as a decorative triumph.

More than a furnishing, this exquisite work of art is a statement of cultivated taste and discernment. Its restrained palette, symbolic depth, and authentic age speak directly to collectors and designers who value provenance over excess and meaning over ornament. Placed within a refined interior, it does not demand attention—it commands it, quietly and without compromise.

• Abrash. Desirable Age Wear.
• Hand knotted wool.
• Made in Iran.
• Measures: 04'01 x 06'05.
• Pile Height: 0.19 of an inch.
• Date: 1880's. Late 19th Century.