Fine Antique Persian Tabriz Animal, Botanic Handmade Wool Rug BB3752 13'6" × 15'5" $48,000

An early 20th century Persian Tabriz rug, the cream field with a naturalistically-drawn hunting scene with scattered animals, trees and hunters overall within a similar cream border.

The origin of antique rug weaving is often disputed. Experts have uncovered splendid antique carpets in the palace of Cyrus the Great, who ruled the ancient Persian Empire in the 6th Century B.C. People crafted these antique rugs in very small villages and sold them for placement in residences. Many of the rugs featured designs and weavings unique to the particular community or tribe in which they were created.

The artistic high point for Persian carpets occurred during the 15th to 18th centuries, under the reign of the Safavid Dynasty. During that period, the Shahs supported the weaving industry by ramping up commercial production and organizing weaving workshops that employed highly skilled artisans.