Afshar triclinnium

Woven with the precision and fineness of a giant bag face, this is a rare example of an Afshar main carpet and an even rarer Persian tribal attempt at a triclinium carpet. Triclinium pieces combine the proportions and demarcations of a traditional Persian arrangement of a gallery carpet, or ‘kelleh,’ with side runners and a reception piece. This Afshar piece seems to blur the distinction between border and separate side runners, though the area at the bottom is clearly delineated by white guard borders. Both field and sides offer different but quintessentially Afshar designs. The deep ochre field is drawn with ‘boteh’ paisleys, and the indigo ground exterior areas use a colorful south Persian tribal retelling of the classic Persian ‘Herati’ pattern.