Antique Persian Farahan Gift-Sized Square Rug by Rug & Kilim, 1920-1929

Details

Description

Hand-knotted in fine wool and originating circa 1920-1929 from Persia, this 2x2 antique Persian Farahan gift-sized square rug joins Rug … Read more Hand-knotted in fine wool and originating circa 1920-1929 from Persia, this 2x2 antique Persian Farahan gift-sized square rug joins Rug & Kilim’s Antique collection. Featuring a rare *quincunx* arrangement of ivory *star medallions,* charming *avian* pictorials, and a dense field of *micro-rosettes *over a midnight-navy ground, this square piece is an extraordinary study in Qajar-era geometry and folk art.

On the Design:

Hailing from the historic Farahan plain in central Persia's Arak province, Farahan carpets occupy an exalted rank in Eastern textile art. Highly favored by 19th-century Qajar nobility and European connoisseurs, Farahan rugs were celebrated for their short-clipped velvet pile, razor-sharp craftsmanship and jewel-toned color harmonies. Small-format *pushti* or gift-sized mats provided weavers a canvas for intimate artistic expression. Often created as trial samplers or *vaghireh* or diplomatic gifts, these compact textiles compressed complex architectural schemes and regional symbolism into gem-like compositions.

The framework employs a classic quincunx spatial balance, where four ivory octagonal star medallions radiate around a central diamond anchor across a midnight-navy or *sormeyi* field. Inside these ivory stars are terracotta cruciform motifs filled with fine grid squares reminiscent of *shabaka* or traditional Persian stained-glass window grilles. Introducing a delightful narrative layer, charming crested birds or *morgh* are rendered in the upper and lower corners, evoking the poetic Persian *Gol-o-Morgh* or rose and nightingale tradition symbolizing divine love and nature. The surrounding dark field is populated by a dense, floating field of geometric rosettes, octagonal florets, and micro-blossoms in terracotta, rust, ochre, and sage. Framing the plane is a slate-blue main border featuring stylized geometric rosettes bounded by red zigzag guard stripes. For designers and collectors, this rare synthesis of tribal pictorial charm, formal geometric symmetry, and saturated dyes offers an extraordinary accent piece suited for table styling, wall mounting, or an elevated entryway highlight.

Condition:

This antique Persian Farahan rug enjoys good condition for its age and origin. See less