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Not currently on display at the V&A

Cover

1876 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Resht work, plain weave felted wool, patchwork, inlaid work, embroidered with silk in a variety of stitches predominantly chain stitch.
Note: researchers may use the terms applique and tambour when searching for this category of textile even though they are incorrect.
Light beige ground with an overall decoration of 1 and 2 half lobed cartouche forms joined together in three horizontal rows, interrupted by 1 and 2 half ovals in vertical rows. In between the cartouche junctions a stylized tulip head from which two leafy stems emerge.
the cartouche forms are delineated by rows of chain stitches in three yellows and orange and a small scalloped line in purple and light blue stitching. The cartouche itself is filled with a symmetrical leaf scrolls in deep crimson and light green leaf tendrils, edged in white, holding small flower heads in dark blue, scarlet and [faded] puce wool edged in light and mid-blue, pink, yellow and green. The ovals are outlined in black, two blues and white and frame a 6-petalled puce flower head with yellow centre, held by pink [unfaded] stitching.
The scarlet red tulip heads face each other and are edged in scarlet and pink [faded to blueish white], and hold a dark blue wool flower head edged in 2 shades of blue stitching. From each tulip head emerges 2 leafy stems in dark crimson and light green carrying white rosettes and 2 types of blue, [faded] purple, red and puce buds and dark green leaves.
The whole panel has a narrow line of small circles in white stitching. The border has been pieced and the embroidery is worked over the seams.
Embroidery thread: 2S silk; white, three yellows, orange, dark and light green, three shades of blue, dark crimson, scarlet, pink, puce, black, purple.
Inset wool: scarlet, deep yellow, white, dark green, dark blue, two shades of purple, puce.

See also 846-1877 and 150-1877 for a similar design.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Woollen yarn, silk thread, weaving, patchwork, sewing, embroidering.
Brief description
felted wool; patchwork, 1876, Persian
Physical description
Resht work, plain weave felted wool, patchwork, inlaid work, embroidered with silk in a variety of stitches predominantly chain stitch.
Note: researchers may use the terms applique and tambour when searching for this category of textile even though they are incorrect.
Light beige ground with an overall decoration of 1 and 2 half lobed cartouche forms joined together in three horizontal rows, interrupted by 1 and 2 half ovals in vertical rows. In between the cartouche junctions a stylized tulip head from which two leafy stems emerge.
the cartouche forms are delineated by rows of chain stitches in three yellows and orange and a small scalloped line in purple and light blue stitching. The cartouche itself is filled with a symmetrical leaf scrolls in deep crimson and light green leaf tendrils, edged in white, holding small flower heads in dark blue, scarlet and [faded] puce wool edged in light and mid-blue, pink, yellow and green. The ovals are outlined in black, two blues and white and frame a 6-petalled puce flower head with yellow centre, held by pink [unfaded] stitching.
The scarlet red tulip heads face each other and are edged in scarlet and pink [faded to blueish white], and hold a dark blue wool flower head edged in 2 shades of blue stitching. From each tulip head emerges 2 leafy stems in dark crimson and light green carrying white rosettes and 2 types of blue, [faded] purple, red and puce buds and dark green leaves.
The whole panel has a narrow line of small circles in white stitching. The border has been pieced and the embroidery is worked over the seams.
Embroidery thread: 2S silk; white, three yellows, orange, dark and light green, three shades of blue, dark crimson, scarlet, pink, puce, black, purple.
Inset wool: scarlet, deep yellow, white, dark green, dark blue, two shades of purple, puce.

See also 846-1877 and 150-1877 for a similar design.
Dimensions
  • Length: 84cm
  • Width: 63.5cm
Object history
In 1877, Nasruddin Shah, the Qajar ruler of Iran, approved a donation of contemporary textiles and carpets to the South Kensington Museum. Organised via Robert Murdoch Smith and Qajar minister Emin al-Mulk, the donation consisted of 14 carpets and 60 other examples of textiles, and was directly intended to advertise Iran's textile industry to British consumers. The accompanying letter to the Museum's Lords of Committee outlined the strategy "We have no doubt whatever that the English Nation has always viewed our manufactures in a kind and friendly manner; and although the Persian Arts have not attained a high rank, nevertheless they have been viewed with a friendly eye and examined in a partial spirit. Such being the case, H.I.M. the Shah resolved that a small quantity of the produce of this country - manufactures by Persian workmen of the present day - should be presented to the said Museum."
Collection
Accession number
842-1877

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Record createdFebruary 26, 2008
Record URL
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