Ghalin History

TITLE: Carpet with Scenes From Persian Romances

ORIGIN: South East of Iran, Probably Kerman

EOCH. PERIOD: Safavid Empire, Iran

DATE: Second Half of 16^th Century

MATERIAL: Cotton, Wool

TECHNIQUE: Persian knot

DIMENSIONS : 375 x 270 cm (147 x 106 in.)

• Warp of Cotton
• Weft of Wool
• Wool Pile

LOCATION: Collection of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (MAD), Paris, France

NOTE:

This carpet evokes the ambiance of a Persian miniature, undoubtedly crafted by a skilled Persian miniature expert. Presumably woven in southeastern Iran, Kerman, this carpet falls under the category of those portraying hunting scenes. Throughout the flowery field, one can observe mounted and foot hunters scattered in an artful display. Notably intriguing is the central depiction of a man amidst enjoyment with women—a distinctive feature in this composition.

An intriguing element in this scene is found at the bottom of the central context, where two dragons face each other, and a tree takes center stage, likely symbolizing the “Tree of Life.”

The border of the carpet harmoniously aligns with the background color, featuring “Toranj” motifs showcasing people in seated positions. A captivating aspect of the border design is the portrayal of leaves, within which winged humans can be discerned—an interesting and unique design element.