Antique Kirman Persian Medallion Light Blue Hand-Knotted Wool Rug – Circa 1900 BB8899 12'5" × 20'6" $65,000

This exquisite early 20th-century Persian Kirman rug (circa 1900) embodies the delicate refinement and painterly precision that define the best examples from the Kirman weaving tradition. Measuring an impressive 21 feet by 12 feet, this carpet was likely a custom commission intended for a grand interior, and it exemplifies the high artistic and technical standards of the Kirman workshops of the late Qajar period.

The rug’s field is dominated by a symmetrical, vertically mirrored tree-of-life composition, rendered in a gracefully fluid drawing. At the center, a towering stylized vase supports a multi-tiered floral tree, its branches unfurling with scrolling leaves and lush rosettes. The light sky-blue ground, a distinctive hallmark of antique Kirman carpets, provides a soft, ethereal backdrop for the pastel-colored floral ornamentation—ranging from dusty rose and apricot to soft greens and ivory. The motifs are rendered with remarkable detail, many incorporating shading and highlights that suggest volume and naturalism, a technique characteristic of 19th-century Kirman weaving.

Framing the central field is a multiband border system, featuring a deep indigo ground in the primary band with an arching vine and boteh palmette motif, interspersed with rosettes and stylized leaves. Flanking this are narrow minor borders in gold, rose, and pale blue, each filled with continuous floral and vinery elements, further enhancing the carpet’s rhythmic complexity and visual harmony.

Unlike the bolder tribal or geometric styles found in other Persian weaving centers, this Kirman carpet displays a more courtly sensibility, refined and lyrical in both composition and palette. The design elements, particularly the elegant boteh forms, meandering vinery, and rosette sprays, are reminiscent of Persian garden architecture and poetic symbolism—hallmarks of Kirman’s aesthetic lineage.

Notable throughout the rug are meticulous weaving techniques, with densely knotted wool pile and crisp articulation of floral forms, suggesting this was made in one of the region’s top workshops—possibly Lavar or Ravar, known for their exquisite execution and finesse. The balance between the detailed central drawing and expansive negative space also points to a mastery of scale and proportion rarely encountered outside master weavers’ ateliers.

This Kirman rug from Doris Leslie Blau Collection is not only a decorative masterpiece but a cultural artifact, embodying the aesthetics and craftsmanship of one of Persia’s most celebrated weaving centers at the turn of the century. Doris Leslie Blau offers a broad and varied pricing spectrum, accommodating collectors and designers across a range of budgets—from modest vintage finds to rare, museum-worthy masterpieces.