Malayer carpet

Weavings from Malayer in western Persia are generally of the scatter size variety. This grand over-sized piece is something rare and special. Long elongated palmettes are drawn in an all-over design along with boteh paisleys in rich hues of burgundy, rose and indigo. Within the border white cartouches housing tall flowers draw the eye. These features seem reminiscent of design traditions from neighboring India that became popular in Persia in the eighteenth century and continued to inform Persian taste into the twentieth century.