QASHQAI 290 x 160 cm (9ft. 6in. x 5ft. 3in.) Persia, mid-19th century Condition: used, pile low in places, several bad old repairs, slits sewn together Warp: wool, weft: silk, pile: wool.

This stately carpet is a rare example of the so-called Qashqa'i khan carpets. These carpets have the classic herati field pattern and four and one medallion and corner deisgn - an urban design rendered in a tribal manner. The white ground is the more typical of the group but there are few examples with a yellow ground. The weave, colours and occasional presence of silk in the foundation indicate that these were woven in workshops under order by the tribal elite - a proposition supported by a number of examples carrying inscriptions from the mid-early 19th century with dedications to members of the tribal aristocracy. This example is elegantly drawn with exceptional colours and is a larger example than many recorded examples. Of particular note is the way that the medallion is clearly overlaid in the field pattern.