79185 Antique Persian Mahal Rug, 07'03 x 11'04.
With the grandeur of an ancient garden illuminated by firelight, this hand-knotted wool antique Persian Mahal rug unfurls a dazzling orchestration of color and form. The abrashed crimson field, vibrant and alive, becomes a woven stage for an intricate allover pattern composed of stylized palmettes, rosettes, cruciform medallions, serrated leaves, rosettes, and geometric flowerheads. These motifs are nestled within a latticework of branching vines, their spindled tendrils radiating in rhythmic symmetry. Each floral bloom and angular blossom pays homage to the Persian tradition of portraying paradise on earth—an eternal spring preserved in wool.
Throughout the composition, deeply symbolic elements emerge: star-shaped blossoms evoke celestial protection, while lotus motifs whisper of eternal life and rebirth. The angular palmettes with tiered extensions mimic blossoming tulips or peacock plumes, symbols of prosperity, nobility, and the divine. Central to the Mahal rug’s language is its use of diagonally repeating medallions, each one representing a microcosm of order within nature’s organic sprawl. These esoteric motifs form a visual chant, weaving sacred geometry into the story of the weave.
Encircling the field is a regal border of Ram’s Horn motifs, each curved flourish a powerful emblem of strength, resilience, and the masculine force of protection. This ancient symbol, rooted in tribal lore, expresses the vital energy of the weaver’s heritage. The Ram’s Horn border is flanked by inner and outer carnation meander guard bands, their delicate floral chains meandering like song-lines around the frame. In Persian tradition, carnations stand for love and deep affection, suggesting that strength and beauty dwell in harmonious balance.
This Persian Mahal rug is not merely a floor covering but a living manuscript of memory and meaning. Every knot, every motif, is a word in the poetic language of its maker, preserving a worldview in wool. Its rustic palette—woven in shades of madder red, saffron yellow, lapis blue, and earthy taupe—lends the rug a spirit both majestic and grounded. A treasured heirloom of tribal symbolism and timeless artistry, it invites reverence and wonder into any space it graces.
- Abrash. Age Wear.
- Hand knotted wool.
- Made in Iran.
- Measures: 07'03 x 11'04.
- Pile Height: 0.20 of an inch.
- Date: 1900's. Early 20th Century.
