79548 Antique Persian Sultanabad Rug, 09'03 x 11'05.

A Qajar Garden: Late 19th Century Persian Sultanabad Masterpiece of Opulence

Woven during the Late 19th Century, this hand knotted wool antique Persian Sultanabad rug captures the cultivated grandeur of the late Qajar period, when master weavers produced carpets destined for the great Western export houses such as Ziegler & Co. Its sumptuous espresso brown field evokes the depth of aged walnut and polished mahogany, creating a rich backdrop that immediately conveys refinement and quiet authority. Sultanabad carpets of this era were celebrated for their sophisticated balance of village spontaneity and cosmopolitan taste, a union that transformed these weavings into prized furnishings for stately interiors and grand residences.

Across the field unfolds a beautifully relaxed floral lattice, its spacious rhythm revealing the unmistakable character of early Sultanabad design. Oversized palmettes and rosettes appear like blooming garden medallions scattered across an expansive landscape. Between them, asymmetrical floral sprays drift gracefully through the composition, their curling stems and stylized blossoms introducing a sense of natural movement. This deliberate openness in the layout creates an airy elegance that allows each motif to breathe, giving the design a poised sophistication rarely found in later interpretations.

The symbolism of the pattern reflects the enduring Persian fascination with cultivated gardens and paradise imagery. Palmettes evoke flourishing trees and eternal vitality, while rosettes symbolize celestial harmony and renewal. Together, these iconic motifs form a lyrical garden of abundance, rendered with the confident artistry of village workshops responding to the opulent aesthetic preferences of international patrons during the height of the Persian export carpet trade.

Encircling this extraordinary masterpiece is a classic Sultanabad palmette and vinery border where alternating blossoms, stylized palmettes, and scrolling vines weave a graceful procession around the composition. Split leaves unfurl with rhythmic movement, lending the frame a sense of living vitality. Inner and outer yellow guard borders adorned with small geometric blossoms provide a luminous architectural finish, enhancing the rug’s stately presence. In a distinguished interior, this exquisite work of art becomes an emblem of cultivated taste—an heirloom of status and cultural significance whose rarity, historical pedigree, and commanding beauty continue to enchant collectors and connoisseurs alike.

• Abrash.
• Hand knotted wool.
• Made in Iran.
• Measures: 09'03 x 11'05.
• Pile Height: 0.17 of an inch.
• Date: 1880's. Late 19th Century.