Description

This luxurious, sprawling 19th century antique Sarouk carpet features an all-over Herati pattern in lavish arrays of a profusion of symmetrically placed floral heads and vine scrolls rendered in a fascinating variety of rich, pure, gleaming hues of celadon, bright teal, light blue, burnt orange and salmon pink against a deep cobalt blue executed with great mastery that highlights the outlines of individual motifs giving each its own individual expression and creating a rich, elaborate texture. The deft use of form and color also reveals itself in the way how focal points are created among a sea of dancing and swirling florals: The slightly larger and plump floral heads in ivory the mid-section of the field surrounded by four peonies in an eye-catching hue of bright opal blue make for an illuminated looking subtle vertical central axis.

The large main border on the other hand, has its own delightfully different expression of color and pattern. Its cadmium red background is exuberant, rich, bright and glowing in contrast to the field. The large, angular, gracefully swirling leaves decorated with blossoming blooms are equally resplendent in their gorgeous jewel hue of turquoise. The large floral heads intricately adorned with minuscule blossoms in light blue and ivory that the turquoise leaves connect add to the brightness and vibrancy of the main border.

The main border also features an inscription in Persian that reads ‘Shuraka-e Qazan Carpets’ which can be translated as ‘Qazan Carpet Associates’, which is a company logo with an English word in it, showing that this magnificent carpet was specially commissioned to cater to a Western audience. It still holds high decorative appeal today and can elevate the look of design element in a room with its vibrant elegance.