Authentic Persian Sultanabad Handmade Wool Rug BB8598 11'6" × 19'7" $40,000

This circa-1920 antique Sultanabad rug features an all-over design of multicolored arabesques, floral abstractions and vinery in shades including red, blue and brown against a field of beige. The herati pattern, also known as the “fish pattern,” can be seen throughout the design; typically consisting of a flower within a diamond diagonally framed by leaves, the herati is a staple of Oriental rug weaving.

In the late 19th century the city of Sultanabad (now Arak in northwest Iran) was a center of high-quality rug production. With striking all-over patterns and more muted palettes than those of Persian counterparts, Persian Sultanabad antique kilim rugs and carpets inspired an immediate following and created unabated demand for Oriental carpets from the Sultanabad district. In the present day, the style of this group of Persian antique rug weavings is still regarded as the most appealing to European and American taste.