Mahal rug

A network of arabesque vine scroll is traced throughout the rose field of this central Persian carpet. The resulting design is organic but balanced, forming an all over repeat pattern of foliage, blossoms and paisleys. Of particular interest is the proliferation of boteh (or paisleys) painted in several color schemes and oriented both horizontally and vertically. Within the medium blue border, botehs are linked in a novel arrangement of four; these form the contours of palmettes from classical Persian border design. A signature at the top of the piece may indicate that this carpet was woven for the domestic Persian market.