Antique Abstract Persian Serapi circa 1890

About the Item

One can not pretend to describe the true nature of the iconography of this breathtaking carpet. The aim of this writing is rather to further the love of the art and the artists that created this masterpiece by simplifying the approach to it. The weavers must have considered making this carpet a sacred work,as we know for fact while weaving the multi-colored wool they continually invoke the name of god so that he would give them inspiration and allow a ray of his divinity to touch the work of man.How the dialogue between the weavers creating this rug and their god is translated to the language of the art itself is part of the mystery. A rug like this bears a design of such complexity that one is forced to show great caution in the attribution of origin.Thus this very fine example proclaims simultaneously a Persian and Caucasian character. The floral abundance on the theme of peony beside which we discover narcissi,lotus-flowers and stylized fans,recalls the classic Persian rugs,but the treatment as much as the composition are connected with rugs from Kuba in the caucasus,consequently,all those observations tend to to place it within the confines of those regions,that is to say northwest Persia hence SERAPI/Herze town! The stylised lilies emphasising the architecture of the pattern all over the field,the richness and the density of the colors cofines on the rug,the tight Turkish knots makes it an indisputable product of Serapi/Herez.One can draw the analogies between the liberating tones of the ninth symphony of beethoven and free flowing of this noble Serapi.The grecios indigo blue border abundantly decorated with foliated scrolls and palmette inspired by the lotus flowers creates an architectural rhythm.The whole project must have been ordered by a nobleman of the west to create this art to cover a room with a classic abstract theme. The painstakingly process in which the raw materials sorted,scoured and spun into yarn before the important dyeing procedure using hundreds of organic elements such as indigo,pomegranate skin,saferan ,beets,seashell,onion skin,to make different shades.Then they are guided by the principal artist of the first order to carefully drawn upon squared paper-one square for each knot! There are repiling in some areas of this carpet,a master weaver from Herez area was flown in to do the job. There is a two inch by four feet adjustment at the end of one border to straighten a wrinkle,all ends and sides are perfectly intact, no minor or major repairs are performed on it, some minor wears left alone to keep it in original condition.The overall condition for an over a century old magnificent Serapi as such would be considered near perfect.

Dimensions:

Width: 166 in (421.64 cm)Length: 261 in (662.94 cm)

Style:

Serapi (In the Style Of)

Materials and Techniques:

Wool,Hand-Knotted,Vegetable Dyed

Place of Origin:

Iran

Period:

1890-1899

Date of Manufacture:

1890