Malayer saddle cover

Rug enthusiasts treasure tribal weavings as authentic artistic expressions of nomadic and pastoralist societies. Dowry pieces, woven for domestic consumption, are thought to best represent the spirit of a weaver and her traditions. This village, pile saddle cover from western Persia, however, may represent a similar phenomenon. The piece draws clusters of roses of the ‘gol-farang’ or ‘Western rose’ type against a deep indigo ground. Complemented by a deep madder red border these flowers glisten and glow reminiscent of Qajar Persian lacquer work. The Persian style of the time incorporated international models from Europe, and the Victorian aesthetic of this piece may be no accident. Woven as a commission for an auspicious occasion, most probably a wedding, the piece is inscribed and ends in the phrase, “moborak bosh” or “congratulations”.