Safavid Carpet, early 17th century, Shah Abbas Period. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
 

Medium: Cotton (warp and weft), wool (weft and pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
Dimensions: Rug: L. 241 in. (612.1 cm) W. 98 1/4 in. (249.6 cm)

Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Harry Payne Bingham, 1959
Accession Number: 59.75
This artwork is currently on display in Gallery 462

From the sixteenth century on, court and travelers’ accounts mention the city of Kirman as a production and export center of high-quality carpets, known for their rich color palette and sturdy structure. Bold interlaced arabesque bands in blue and white and dense floral patterns add to a field containing stylized dragonlike creatures, deer, and lions.

Provenance: Stefano Bardini, Florence, Italy; Mrs. Harry Payne Bingham, New York (until 1959)

References
Dimand, Maurice S., and Jean Mailey. Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1973. no. 47, pp. 86, 113, ill. fig. 119 (b/w).