A silk and metal-thread Heriz carpet, north west Persia, dated 13[0]9/1891-92 AD

Woven with an exuberant tree fruiting a polychromatic array of pomegranates on a rich golden yellow ground, this magnificent carpet exudes a sense of vitality. The weaver has played with the ton sur ton effect using lighter shades of blue against the midnight-blue trunk for the delicate sprigs of leaves which, coupled with the deep terracotta red silk utilised for the smaller twigs, lends a sense of depth to the design. It is an outstanding testament to the virtuosity of Qajar weavers of the nineteenth century.

Notably, this unusual carpet incorporates metal-thread, primarily within the border, but also as the ground for several of the pomegranates within the field. Silk and metal-thread carpets are rare and appear infrequently on the market, especially one of such remarkable design. Examples with medallion fields include a rug sold at Christie’s, London, 15 April 2010, lot 76, subsequently sold at Sotheby’s, London 6 November 2018, lot 27; Christie’s, London, 13 April 2000, lot 150; a further example was sold at Christie’s, London, 7 October 2010, lot 230. A Heriz carpet of comparable design is recorded by John Andrew Taylor formerly with Battilossi and now in a Turin collection.