Antique Persian Sultanabad Beige Handwoven Wool Rug BB4057 9'3" × 10'9" $25,000

An early 20th century Persian antique Sultanabad rug, the yellow beige field with an allover trellis of stylized palmettes, enlarged leaves and floral vinery within an ivory palmette and serrated leaf vinery 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 antique carpets and rugs. Factory production replaced the village craft of rug-making that had been prevalent up until that time. These antique Persian rugs 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.