Antique Kirman Persian Allover Floral Warm Tan Hand-Knotted Wool Carpet – Circa 1880 BB2841 13'6" × 23'0" $150,000

This late 19th-century Persian Kirman carpet, woven circa 1880 in the Kerman tradition, is hand-knotted in wool and finished in a warm tan ground. Antique Kirman rugs are admired for their refined drawing and generous floral compositions, and this example shows that courtly sensibility in a beautifully time-softened form.

Across the field, a dense allover botanical design unfolds in symmetrical layers of flowering vines, palmettes, rosettes, and delicate cloud-band scrolls. The composition is held together by a subtle trellis and a faint central axis, while muted teal, rust, brown, and taupe accents lend depth without disturbing the rug’s mellow, collected palette.

A worn border frames the field with quiet authority, its floral motifs now softened into an elegant low-contrast outline. The result is a formal Persian carpet with enough movement to animate a room, equally suited to traditional interiors and more contemporary spaces that call for warmth, history, and an aged, textural presence with understated grandeur.

Sourced from Doris Leslie Blau, this antique rug reflects the gallery's longstanding dedication to preserving the finest examples of carpet artistry from around the world. Its remarkable craftsmanship and patina make it both a decorative statement and a collectible work of art.