Inspired by the XVI century Austrian Museum for Art Safavid Islimi carpet fragment

Safavid Arabesque Islimi carpet, inspired by the XVI century Safavid carpet fragment from the Austrian Museum for Art

CODE: SFVMK05
Size (metric): 216x292cm
Size (ft): 7'1"x9'6"
Area: 6.3 m²
Density: 160 000 knots per square meter, totally ~ 1 million knots
Pile height: 0.6cm
Ends: 2 cm ivory kilim weaving, bundled knots
Weaving period: 4 months

Colors: medium blue, madder red, cinnamon, medium yellow, mustard (dark goldenrod), old purple, beige, maroon, light green, midnight blue, light blue, ivory, dark brown.
Dyes: 100% natural dyes: madder, weld (Reseda Luteola), indigo, pomegranate skins, natural brown sheep wool, natural ivory sheep wool - all are eco-friendly and non-toxic
Materials: Handcarded and handspun wool for pile, ivory wool warps and 2 shots of ivory wool wefts

Weaver: Sona, Leyla, Zahra

Design: The inner field has an all-over pattern on a blue ground; two series of arabesque-stems, in red with yellow outline and yellow with red outline, intersect one another and cover the inner field like a network. The arabesques have curled ornaments and offshoots, with conventional blossoms at intervals. The stems develop into curves ending in arabesques, or join together into lozenges or curved forms repeating in rows. Between the stems, and covered by them, grow flowering plants in colours. Most of the plants have volute-like motives at their roots.

In the main border are two differently-coloured wavy stems of arabesque-form, with blossoms on a red ground; these intersect one another so as to balance. Between them as a filling are green stems with white cinque-foil blossoms. Outer border: continuous wavy stem with red blossoms and green leaves on a white ground. Inner border: counterchange cresting (trefoil) in yellow and wine-red.