SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY

North West Persian copies of Safavid designs from other centres in Iran are well known; the migration of designs from 17th century South East Persia to 18th century North West in particular is well-attested. It is rare however to find such a close copy of an Isfahan carpet produced in this area. The origin is indicated by the cotton foundation with two shoots of weft and in particular the symmetrical knotting. It also has remarkably strong colours in considerable variety, so while it lacks the finesse of drawing of the Isfahan prototype, it more than makes up for it with the vibrancy of the tonality.