Oversized Antique Persian Tabriz Handmade wool Carpet

A late 19th century Persian Tabriz rug with an overall field of concentric stripes of sand and beige around a central serrated-edge medallion with each stripe having similar small floral patterns within a sand enlarged herati border.

The origin of antique rug weaving is often disputed. Experts have uncovered splendid antique carpets in the palace of Cyrus the Great, who ruled the ancient Persian Empire in the 6th Century B.C. People crafted these antique carpets in very small villages and sold them for placement in residences. Many of the oversized area rugs featured designs and weavings unique to the particular community or tribe in which they were created.

The artistic high point for Antique Persian rugs occurred during the 15th to 18th centuries, under the reign of the Safavid Dynasty. During that period, the Shahs supported the weaving industry by ramping up commercial production and organizing weaving workshops that employed highly skilled artisans.