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Description
53389 Late 19th Century Antique Persian Mashhad Rug, 10'11 x 17'08.
Evoking the grandeur of Persia’s imperial courtly traditions, this distressed antique Persian Mashhad rug is a sublime symphony of artistry, history, and cultivated elegance from the Late 19th Century. Hand-knotted in the city of Mashhad—a revered weaving center known for its opulent workshop carpets—this majestic piece bears the hallmarks of old-world refinement. Woven entirely from high-grade wool, the rug’s surface is gently faded from time, its once-vibrant dyes mellowed into a luminous, antique patina that exudes a sense of understated prestige. Its generous scale and painstaking detail suggest it was conceived for a noble interior, where timeless beauty was not only appreciated, but expected.
At the heart of the exclusive composition lies a regal, cusped almond medallion, unfolding like an architectural lotus across the faded sea of slate blue and muted taupe. Surrounding it is a lush allover botanical field—an endless garden of palmettes, rosettes, boteh, and curling vinery—each motif rendered with poetic precision. The movement of the design is orchestrated with masterful rhythm, allowing each floral form to breathe while contributing to an intricate whole. Subtle abrashed transitions throughout the field lend it a painterly softness, as though centuries of light and air have brushed their own artistry into the weave. The medallion appears almost suspended within this flora-rich landscape, framed by corner spandrels that echo its elegance and extend its visual embrace.
This exquisite work of art is completed by a resplendent botanical border, flanked by delicate inner and outer guard bands that elevate the entire frame into a world of its own. Within this border, stylized blossoms unfurl in formal procession, their linear grace and looping tendrils providing a structured counterpoint to the organic exuberance of the field. This interplay of symmetry and spontaneity, of order and wildness, lies at the heart of classical Persian design—and nowhere is it more eloquently expressed than in Mashhad rugs of this caliber. The muted palette—cool greys, celadons, faded caramels, and antique rusts—enhances its versatility, allowing it to complement both historical and contemporary interiors with grace and quiet authority.
To live with this antique Mashhad rug is to bring a legacy of craftsmanship, culture, and ethical value into your home. As a distressed masterpiece, its allure lies not in perfection but in its palpable connection to time—to the skilled hands that knotted it over a century ago, and to the lives it has quietly witnessed since. With its soulfully worn patina and intricately wrought design, this piece serves as both an aesthetic focal point and a philosophical anchor—reminding us that true luxury is not found in the new or the glossy, but in the rare, the meaningful, and the beautifully preserved. A singular acquisition for the discerning connoisseur, this precious Mashhad rug is an heirloom of poetic depth and enduring splendor.
- Rendered in variegated shades of rust, brick red, cerulean, azure, terra cotta, clay pot, denim, tan, sand, ecru, bluish-grey, Aegean, taupe, and greige with other accent colors.
- Distressed. Desirable Age Wear.
- Antique Wash. Abrash.
- Hand knotted wool.
- Made in Iran.
- Hotel Lobby Size Carpet 11 x 18 Rug.
- Measures: 10'11 x 17'08.
- Date: 1890s. Late 19th Century.