Physical description
WARP: yellow silk; Z2S; depressed; 192 - 208 warp threads per dm (48 - 54 per in)
WEFT: Foundation weft: yellow silk; Z2S; 3 shoots after each row of knots; 94 - 111 knots per dm (25 - 28 knots per in). Pattern weft: (1) silver strip, Z-twisted around a yellow silk core; (2) silver strip, Z-twisted around a white silk core; brocaded over 3 warp threads.
PILE: wool; 14 colours: dark red, light red, dark orange, yellow, dark green, green, light green, very light green, dark blue, blue, very light blue, dark brown, brown, white; asymmetrical knot open to the left; 9024 -11544 knots per sq.dm (600 - 756 knots per sq. in).
SIDE FINISH: one cord oversewn with dark red silk.
END FINISH: Lower: part missing but there are the remains of a tapestry-woven band with an illegible inscription in black and silver thread. Upper: cut.
DESIGN:
Field: dark-blue ground with central red lobed medallion with metal thread arabesques and floral, piled arabesques. The ground is filled with stems, palmettes, leaves, blossoms, birds, dragons, animal heads, cloud bands, and tigers.
Inner border: white ground with light brown flowers and stems.
Outer border: light red with red floral meander.
Place of Origin
Iran (made)
Date
1850-1880 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Hand knotted woollen pile, on silk warp and weft, with areas brocaded with metal thread; asymmetrical knot, open to the left; 600-756 knots per sq. in (9,024-11,544 per sq. dm)
Marks and inscriptions
INSCRIPTION (transliteration):
Read from bottom right.
1. Mikhwah va gul afshan kun az dahr chi miguyi in guft sahargah gul bulbul chi miguyi.
2. Misnad bih gulistan bar ta shahid va saqi-ra lab giri va rukh busi minushi va gul buyi.
3. Shimshad kharaman kun va ahang-i gulistan kun ta sarv bimuzad az qadd-i tu diljuyi.
4. Imruz kih bazar-at pur-i jush-i kharidar ast daryab va binih ganj az maya'i nikuyi.
5. Har murgh bi-dastan dar gulshan-i shah ayad bulbul bih ghazan khwani hafidh bih du'aguyi. 1. Call for wine and scatter roses - what do you want with Time? Thus spoke the Rose at dawn. Nightingale, what do you say?
2. Take the cushion to the garden. You may grip the lip and kiss the cheek of the Beloved and the Cup-Bearer. You may drink the wine and smell the rose.
3. Move your graceful form with pomp and make a harmony of the garden so that the Cypress learns from your stance how to win the heart.
4. Today, when the market is full of the ebullience of buying, acquire and put aside the capital of goodness.
5. Every bird brings a melody to the garden of the King: the Nightingale with songs of love, Hafiz with prayers of blessing.
Dimensions
Length: 312 cm, Width: 165 cm
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
D. Jones & G. Michell (eds.), The Arts of Islam: Hayward Gallery, 8 April - 4 July, 1976, (London: Arts Council of Great Britain 1976): Cat. no. 56; 97. J. Wearden, "The riddle of the Salting Carpet", Oriental Art vol. XLIII/i (1997): 21-7.
E. Lièvre, Musée graphique, IV, 1880-3.
M. Beattie, The Rug in Islamic Art: Temple Newsam House, 16 April to 28 May 1964 (Leeds: Temple Newsam House 1964): Cat. No. 18.
M. Beattie, "Coupled-column prayer rugs", Oriental Art XIV/4
H. Erdmann (ed.), Seven Hundred Years of Oriental Carpets (London: Faber 1970) .
E. Atil,, Turkish Art (Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press 1980): Ill. 190; 324.
Oriental Carpet and Textile Studies vol. V part 2 (1999): whole volume dedicated to 'Salting carpets'.
Exhibition History
The Victoria and Albert Museum: Art and Design For All (Kunst und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn 18/11/2011-15/04/2012)
Labels and date
Bequeathed to the Museum in 1910 by George Salting, it was thought to be a 16th century Persian carpet but in the late 1920s it was recatalogued as Turkish, probably mid-19th century. Its attribution is still a matter of vigorous debate.
There is no evidence to support the idea that the Salting Carpet was manufactured in Turkey, except for the fact that it was sold to Mr Salting from Istanbul and that similar carpets are said to have been in the Sultan's collection. The techniques and the designs are appropriate for Persia; there is nothing in the dyes which precludes a Persian origin, indeed the use of juglon (from walnuts) to produce the beige colour is characteristic of Persian carpets and not of Turkish. The inscription is from the 14th century Persian poet, Hafiz (1320-89):
'Call for wine and scatter roses: what do thou seek from Time? - thus spoke the rose at dawn. O nightingale, what say thou? Take the cushion to the garden, that thou may hold the lip and kiss the cheek of the beloved and the cup-bearer, and drink wine and smell the rose. Proudly move thy graceful form and to the garden go, that the cypress may learn from thy stature how to win hearts. Today while thy market is full of the tumult of buyers, gain and put by a store of the capital of goodness. Every bird brings a melody to the garden of the King - the nightingale, songs of love, and Hafiz, prayers for blessing.
If the Salting Carpet and several related pieces are Persian, and it seems probable, we suggest that they were used as state gifts from the Shah to the Sultan, expressing Persian state power and cultural identity and possibly carrying overtones of political propaganda.
We also suggest that serious consideration is given to the possibility that the Salting Carpet was woven in the 1850s and presented by Shah Nasir al Din (r.1848-1896) to impress on his neighbour his personal wealth and prestige, the skill of his weavers and the rich artistic traditions of Persia.
Technical Details
7'7" x 5'5" (2.31 x 1.65m)
Warp: yellow silk; Z2S; varies from 48 to 54 warp threads per inch (192-208 per dm).
Weft: yellow silk; Z2S; 3 shoots after each row of knots; varies from 25 to 28 knots per inch (94-111 per dm).
Brocaded Wefts: there are two types woven over three warp threads and under one (i) silver strip Z-twisted around an unplied white silk core (ii) silver strip Z-twisted around a yellow silk core.
Pile: wool; 14 colours; asymmetrical knot open to the left and tied around 2 warp threads; varies from 600 to 756 knots per sq.inch (9,024-11,544 per sq.dm).
Production Note
Some authorities say this carpet is a Turkish carpet dating from the middle of the 16th century. Mr Salting bought it as a 16th century Persian carpet.
Subjects depicted
Birds; Dragons; Stylized flowers; Medallion; Cartouche; Chilin
Categories
Textiles; Floor coverings
Collection code
T&F
