Authentic 19th Century Persian Kirman Botanic Handmade Wool Carpet BB4168 12'8" × 16'0" $35,000

A late 19th century Persian Karastan Kirman rug, the ivory field with allover floral sprays between rows of brick red and black star medallions within an ivory floral border.

Persian rugs have a long history, going back to the Golden Age of Persian carpet weaving. The concept of carpet production came about during the Safavid dynasty. Court-established factories, provisioned by Shah Tahmasp (1524-1587), were devoted to producing intricate carpets and rugs. Factory production replaced the village craft of rug-making that had been prevalent up until that time. These antique oriental rugs for sale featured simple rectilinear patterns. After 1722, Persian carpet production declined significantly. The Afghan invasion took a toll on the region, but – fueled by European demand – production picked up again in the late nineteenth century. This art form was thus revived.