Vintage Persian Soumak Rug, 04'00 X 06'07

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79774 Vintage Persian Soumak Rug, 04'00 x 06'07.

The Sacred Menagerie: A Vintage Persian Soumak Masterpiece of Noah’s Ark

This … Read more 79774 Vintage Persian Soumak Rug, 04'00 x 06'07.

The Sacred Menagerie: A Vintage Persian Soumak Masterpiece of Noah’s Ark

This handwoven wool vintage Persian Soumak rug presents a captivating Noah’s Ark pictorial theme, transforming an ancient narrative of preservation into a stunning masterwork. Across its deep navy blue field, a remarkable menagerie of animals inhabits an ordered world of cruciform medallions, octagonal compartments, geometric enclosures, and miniature symbols. The profusion of creatures gives the exceptional composition a ceremonial presence, recalling the enduring Persian and Caucasian tradition of using zoomorphic imagery to express protection, prosperity, courage, and the continuity of life.

The pictorial field is populated with lions, birds, peacocks, deer or gazelles, horses, goats, and other stylized quadrupeds, many arranged in deliberate pairs that reinforce the Ark narrative. Lions traditionally signify power, bravery, and guardianship; peacocks evoke immortality and paradise; birds convey faith and spiritual ascent; while deer and gazelles suggest grace and the natural world. Rooster-like forms can be read as protective emblems associated with vigilance, and the repeated pairing of creatures carries an evocative message of survival, companionship, and perpetuation across generations.

Monumental stepped cross medallions command the vertical axis, creating architectural sanctuaries around the animal figures. These iconic cross forms in this decorative context may function as protective devices, while eight-pointed stars scattered through the design are traditionally associated with spirituality and good fortune. Smaller compartmental reserves introduce birds and talismanic devices, giving the surface the character of an illuminated bestiary. This dense symbolic vocabulary makes the rug feel deeply personal: not simply ornament, but a visual cosmology in which earthly creatures, safeguarding emblems, and sacred geometry coexist.

A protective talisman border surrounds the pictorial narrative with repeating geometric devices, establishing a symbolic perimeter around the coveted interior. Sawtooth guard borders sharpen the outer framework, their serrated rhythm carrying longstanding associations with defense and warding. The restrained ivory, garnet, olive, ochre, and charcoal accents glow against the midnight ground, heightening every figurative detail. Rare in subject and captivating in execution, this exquisite work of art offers the prestige of an extraordinary masterpiece with the singular presence of folk art—a conversation piece created for a discerning collection.

Abrash.
Handwoven wool.
Measures: 04'00 x 06'07.
Pile Height: 0.15 of an inch.
Date: 1960's. Mid-20th Century. See less