This monumental carpet belongs to the finest Persian textile production of the Qajar period. Originating from the historic weaving workshops of Kirman, in southeastern Iran, exceptional dimensions — extraordinarily rare both at the time and today — indicate that it was intended for grand ceremonial interiors: royal residences, aristocratic palaces, or important noble estates, where such works served not merely as furnishings, but as true symbols of prestige and cultural refinement.
The field is organized through a sophisticated modular composition of repeating polylobed medallions, arranged within a layout evocative of the ideal garden, one of the central themes of Persian art. The decorative surface unfolds as a continuous and harmonious space in which floral motifs, scrolling vines, and arabesques intertwine with remarkable fluidity, symbolically evoking the image of the earthly paradise.
The chromatic palette reveals a refined painterly sensibility: tones of antique rose and terracotta interact with delicate sage greens and softened pale blues, creating a luminous and atmospheric ensemble of exceptional visual softness. The harmony of the colors, further mellowed by time, lends the carpet a particularly sophisticated atmospheric quality.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many large-scale Persian carpets were exported to Europe and the United States, where growing demand among Western elites contributed to the spread of Orientalist taste within aristocratic and bourgeois interiors. Examples of such scale and quality nevertheless remained exceedingly rare.
The carpet retains its original structure in its entirety; the pile shows an even and consistent wear, fully coherent with the age and historical use of the piece. This patina does not diminish the clarity of the decorative composition but rather enhances its charm and chromatic depth.
Kirman Carpet, Persia
First half of the 19th century, Qajar period
Wool pile on cotton warp and weft
838 × 482 cm
More Details
Dimensions: Width: 189.77 in (482 cm)Length: 329.93 in (838 cm)
Style: Khotan (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques: Wool
Place of Origin: Asia
Period: 19th Century
Date of Manufacture: 1820
Condition: GoodWear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. Sun faded to soften the colors.
Seller Location: Rome, IT