564
564
c. 1920
hand-knotted wool 14'10" × 21'3" in (452 × 648 cm)
hand-knotted wool 14'10" × 21'3" in (452 × 648 cm)
estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $62,500
Kerman
Persian Carpet Capital
Named for the Iranian province of Kerman and its city center of the same name, the Kirman carpet is among the most lasting and widely recognized styles of Persian rugs. The Kirman is distinguished by its botanical or architectural motifs structured by a surrounding border and, frequently, an elaborate central medallion or cluster of medallions that are also known as shamsas, meaning "little sun" in Arabic.
Made in the early 20th century, this stunning antique Kirman bursts with both floral and architectural designs that reflect its historic origins with Iran's Safavid dynasty of the 16th century. The carpet's medallions (the largest of which are the two at its center) reflect the geometric domes found in mosques, and the classic Persian motif of the pomegranate can be found among the various flora of the pattern.