Silk Kashan Carpet

Unknown

second half 16th century · Silk (warp, weft, and pile), metal wrapped thread; asymmetrically knotted pile · Islamic Art

This carpet, possibly woven in the silk trade and carpet manufacturing center of Kashan, has a dark blue quatrefoil medallion at its center. Decorative elements on this and other related carpets from Kashan and Tabriz indicate that weavers may have used pattern books containing popular motifs to guide them in production. These designs are also present in other media, particularly in the arts of the book. The use of metal-wrapped thread in a silk Kashani carpet of this size is unusual, but the high knot count of about 600 knots per inch may have made this expensive material worth its cost given the fine quality of the work.

Artist

Unknown

Date

second half 16th century

Medium

Silk (warp, weft, and pile), metal wrapped thread; asymmetrically knotted pile

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913