early XVIII century Azerbaijan "blossom" /  Medallion, Leaf and Cypress pattern carpet, Late Safavid or Early Khanate Period, Karabagh. Currently at the Shirvanshahlar Palace, Baku, Azerbaijan

Size: 236x527cm (7'9"x17'4")

Condition: low pile throughout, scattered reweaves, a couple of small splits, selvages partly missing and fraid, ends rewoven.
Material: all wool

Sotheby's 24 april 2012 - sale 5106

The design of this beautiful carpet is related to the main group of diamond repeat dragon carpets (no dragons in this type). The border derives ultimately from the late 16th century vase carpet borders such as the Lady Baillie Carpet sold in Sotheby's rooms 14 October 2004, lot 100. Charles Grant Ellis refers to the group as 'cypress patterned' carpets in Oriental Carpets in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, London, 1988 and illustrates three examples that relate closely to the present carpet, figs. 45., 45a, and 45b., pp.144-146. Another even more simliar example is published in E Heinrich Kircheim at al, Orient Stars: A Carpet Collection, Stuttgart and London, 1993, pl. 71, p. 137, listed as a 17th and 18th century Medallion, Leaces and Cypress design carpet.

Michael Franses in Orient Stars designates this type as "flower carpet style 2", of which only ten copies are known

Later, the rug appeared at Dorotheum, Oriental Carpets, Textiles and Tapestry, (26.09.2012) as plate no: 33

Lastly, the rug was sold at Bruun Rasmussen rooms on September 17, 2014 

It came to the Shirvanshahlar Palace through a private dealer.

Christie's, 24 april 2012 - sale 5106

Christie's, 24 april 2012 - sale 5106

Christie's rooms, 24 april 2012 - sale 5106

The rug is currently kept at the historical Palace of the Shirvanshahs (Enderun section) (XV century monument in the Old City, Baku)