Antique Serapi rug, Azerbaijan, NW Iran, late 19th century, 12 ft x 20 ft 06 in (3.66 m x 6.25 m), Nazmiyal Collection

Antique Serapi, late nineteenth century. Antique Serapi carpets like this one are famed for their bold medallion designs and striking abstract style. This magnificent example, however, has a diminutive medallion and not cornerpieces, and so it functions more as a centralized allover design of jutting angular vines and palmettes. The palette consists of soft apricot, pale blues, and ivory set against a warm terracotta ground with sparing use of dark tones for accents. The richly detailed ‘turtle’ vinescroll border has a teal ground that nicely complements the palette of the field. Definitely one of the more formal and elegant examples of this type.