Carpet with a Compartment Design
Unknown Artist
first half 16th century
Medium
Silk (warp and weft), wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
Dimensions
Rug: H. 196 in. (497.8 cm) W. 134 in. (340.4 cm) Tube: H. 146 in. (370.8 cm) Weight: 79 lbs. (198 lbs. rolled on tube. tube is 119 lbs. empty) Diam. 20 in. (50.8 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Rugs
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1910
Accession Number
10.61.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This magnificent *Carpet with a Com Design*, woven in the first half of the16th century, exemplifies pinnacle of Islamic textile artistry during the Safavid era in Persia. Measuring an impressive 16 feet by 11 feet and weighing 79 pounds, it was likely created for a grand palace or mosque, where such opulent rugs served as symbols of wealth and cultural sophistication. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art through Frederick C. Hewitt Fund 1910, it now graces the Department of Islamic Art, showcasing the era's mastery of knotting techniques. The carpet's asymmetrically knotted pile—using ...