Keschan

As this superb item convincingly illustrates, the Central Persian prayer rugs of Kashan are amongst the most magnificent of all Oriental carpets, with a classic heritage stretching back to the sumptuous 16th Century Safavid Court prayer rugs attributed to the origin. The resplendent floral embellishment of the mihrab in this example belongs to the renowned tradition of the 'millefleurs' Vase-and-Bouquet composition, which appears first in some of the greatest masterpiece Mughal prayer rugs of the 17th Century, and was subsequently to glorify the rarest and most valuable Qashqa'i tribal prayer rugs, and a few of the finest Teheran and Kashan ceremonial prayer rugs dating from the beginning of this century onwards. As the totally assured expression of the design in this specimen makes abundantly clear, there are few more appropriate ornamental schemes for a prayer rug of such a sophisticated and elevated character. Wonderfully clear, rich colours and brilliant draughtsmanship further mark this item as a superlative specimen of its famous type.