First quarter 20th century, 214 x 138 cm, South Persia

A very finely woven pictorial rug of outstanding quality, commissioned from one of the Kerman master workshops which specialised in the production of figural carpets. In the red-ground field, two scenes of multiple figures depict an Old Testament story (First Book of Moses - Genesis, Chapter 37, 18 – 36): Joseph being sold to Ishmaelite traders by his brothers. The viewer is immediately struck by the fact that the realistic representation and compositions are out of line with any Oriental pictorial tradition. According to our research, the artist who drew the cartoon that served to guide the weavers was inspired by a bible illustration created by a German painter, Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld. The latter created the woodcuts for a new edition of the Luther Bible published in 1860. The popular illustrated bible was translated into several languages and spread all over the world. The German Empire and Iran maintained close political and economic ties until World War I, and many German merchants were active in Iran. It is thus feasible that the carpet was produced for a German client resident in Iran. Then again, the legend of Joseph was transferred from the Old Testament to the Koran almost literally and thus held great significance in the Muslim religion too, so an Iranian client is also conceivable. – Embedded into a network of delicate vines, 22 round medallions in the main border show half-length portraits of Jacob, Joseph and Zulayhka, Potiphar’s wife (each identified by inscriptions); a small cartouche at the upper end contains the inscription: "Farmayesh Kermani 333". – Very well preserved.