Carpet, Kashan Mohtasham Tree of life gold background 146 x 214 cm - kurk wool on cotton - Early 19th century

Kashan carpets are among the most important refined Persian urban carpets, which are a direct legacy of the golden age of Persian weaving, from the 16th to the early 17th century, during the reign of the famous patron of the arts, Shah Abbas. Many archetypes of Persian carpets originated in this era. The ‘Royal Garden’ of Kashan still has flowing spring water and has been well preserved since the 16th century. The Kashan carpets pattern is inspired by the garden. The Royal Garden was founded by Shah Abbas, the main monarch of the Safavid dynasty. 'Mohtasham Kashan' is the rarest group of Kashan carpets, they feature non-traditional patterns and colours, and were woven until the late 19th century. This elite class of Kashan carpets features a very bright quality of lambswool, which gives the surface a highly reflective quality. Authentic ancient Mohtasham Kashan carpets are quite rare and are extraordinarily finely knotted. They feature a graceful teardrop medallion decoration or antique motifs with richly detailed flowers and leaves. Most popular of all are the earlier Mohtasham Kashan rugs, dating from the mid-19th century and sometimes even earlier. The finest of these Persian carpets feature antique ivory or golden backgrounds and extremely fine details, as well as pastel and earthy colours, extremely softened by time. The oldest Mohtasham Kashan rugs are typically kept in private collections. The finest 19th and early 20th century Kashan rugs, whether classic or elite Mohtasham style, are essentially formal, richly continental, and definitely complement a traditional decor. Plus, they look good in several other settings, most notably, large spaces conceived by today's creative architects. The best pieces, kept in good to excellent condition and featuring an eye-catching palette of exclusively naturally dyed colours, should be considered very solid artistic investments. Dimensions: 214x146 cm (a very peculiar size) Material: gold background in fine kurk wool with cotton weft. Origin: Persia Dating: 1880 Motif: floral Craftsmanship: hand-knotted In good condition, with small signs of ageing From a private collection With certificate of authenticity