Pictorial Carpet
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Silk (warp, weft, and pile), metal wrapped thread; asymmetrically knotted pile, brocaded
Dimensions
Rug: L. 91 1/2 in. (232.4 cm) W. 68 in. (172.7 cm) Tube: Diam. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm) W. 82 in. (208.3 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Rugs
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of C. Ruxton Love Jr., 1967
Accession Number
67.2.2
Tags
About this artwork
This remarkable pictorial carpet represents a fascinating confluence of Persian technical mastery and European artistic influence during the Safavid period. Woven in silk with metal-wrapped thread using asymmetrical knotting and brocading techniques, the carpet demonstrates an unusually dense weave for Persian production, suggesting court workshop origins. The composition draws inspiration from Flemish tapestry traditions, revealing the sophisticated cultural exchanges between Safavid Iran and E...