Carpet Fragment
1550-1600
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Warp: cream silk; Z2S; depressed; 35 threads per inch (140 per dm).
Weft: cream silk; Z spun; unplied; 2 parallel threads to each shoot and 3 shoots after each row of knots; 16 knots per inch (58 per dm).
Pile: wool; 12 colours: dark red, light red, orange, dark yellow, yellow, dark green, green, dark blue, light blue, light brown, black, white; symmetrical knot, open to the right and tied around 2 warp threads; 280 knots per sq. inch (3850 per sq. dm).
NB: report on dyes shows: red = lac, orange = madder, yellow = luteolin.
Side finish: cut.
End finish: cut.
Design: Field: dark red ground with 2 stem systems - a) dark blue and outlined in yellow; b) green and bearing large composite blossoms and flowerheads. Field also contains orange cloud bands and 2 spotted animals.
Weft: cream silk; Z spun; unplied; 2 parallel threads to each shoot and 3 shoots after each row of knots; 16 knots per inch (58 per dm).
Pile: wool; 12 colours: dark red, light red, orange, dark yellow, yellow, dark green, green, dark blue, light blue, light brown, black, white; symmetrical knot, open to the right and tied around 2 warp threads; 280 knots per sq. inch (3850 per sq. dm).
NB: report on dyes shows: red = lac, orange = madder, yellow = luteolin.
Side finish: cut.
End finish: cut.
Design: Field: dark red ground with 2 stem systems - a) dark blue and outlined in yellow; b) green and bearing large composite blossoms and flowerheads. Field also contains orange cloud bands and 2 spotted animals.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Middle East, Carpet, Fragment. Carpet fragment, wool knotted pile on silk foundation, design of antlered deer, Chinese kylin, cloudbands, lotus leaves and flowers against red ground, Safavid Iran, 1550-1600 |
| Physical description | Warp: cream silk; Z2S; depressed; 35 threads per inch (140 per dm). Weft: cream silk; Z spun; unplied; 2 parallel threads to each shoot and 3 shoots after each row of knots; 16 knots per inch (58 per dm). Pile: wool; 12 colours: dark red, light red, orange, dark yellow, yellow, dark green, green, dark blue, light blue, light brown, black, white; symmetrical knot, open to the right and tied around 2 warp threads; 280 knots per sq. inch (3850 per sq. dm). NB: report on dyes shows: red = lac, orange = madder, yellow = luteolin. Side finish: cut. End finish: cut. Design: Field: dark red ground with 2 stem systems - a) dark blue and outlined in yellow; b) green and bearing large composite blossoms and flowerheads. Field also contains orange cloud bands and 2 spotted animals. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | FRAGMENT OF A PERSIAN, 17TH CENTURY CARPET
This fragile piece of hand-knotted carpet has been sewn onto a linen backing which is now providing support for it and preventing the tears and holes from becoming enlarged; many fine couching stitches can be seen.
The detailed flowing design is typical of many fine Persian carpets and is achieved by using an asymmetrical knot. This is less bulky than the other common type, the symmetrical knot, and enables the weaver to work with a far higher knot density, rendering more naturalistic motifs. Please see the other side of this display case for an example of symmetrical knotting.
The two dominant motifs are an antlered deer on the right and a chilin (ky'lin) on the left; this is a mythological animal with flaming haunches and comes from Chinese art. Another Chinese motif, known as a cloud band, is included in this design: this is the large white S-motif most clearly seen in the upper right hand corner.
Technical Analysis:
WARP: cream silk; Z2S; depressed; 35 threads per inch (140 per dm)
WEFT: cream silk; Z-spun, unplied, 2 parallel threads per shoot; 3 shoots after every row of knots; 16 knots per inch (58 per dm)
PILE: wool; 12 colours: dark red, light red, orange, dark yellow, dark green, green, dark blue, light blue, light brown black, white; asymmetrical knot open to the right and tied around 2 threads; 280 knots per sq. inch (3850 per sq. dm)(01/12/1999) |
| Object history | Given by Jane Spencer Brunton |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic reference | Christine Klose, "Imperial Puzzle. Sixteenth-Century Persian Spiral Vine Carpets with Animals", HALI 170 (2011) pp.76-85: fig.17. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 38-1892 |
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| Record created | February 7, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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