Carpet with Palm Trees, Ibexes, and Birds

Unknown

late 16th–early 17th century · Cotton (warp and weft), wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile · Islamic Art

This carpet, with its pictorial depiction of trees, birds, and animals, is conceived like a textile with a repeat design in which each unit reverses the direction of the preceding one. The ibexes, Chinese mythological beasts called qilins, and animals in combat, are derived from Safavid Persian art, as is the border design of cartouches and star-shaped medallions with cloud bands. The palm tree, however, is a very Indian feature, as is the generally naturalistic drawing of the flora and fauna and the bright red color of the field. The relationship to Persian carpet design dates this example to the early Mughal period, soon after the first carpet workshops were established by the emperor Akbar in Lahore, Agra, and Fatehpur Sikri.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 16th–early 17th century

Medium

Cotton (warp and weft), wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917