NORTHWEST PERSIA, FIRST QUARTER 20TH CENTURY

This unusual Tabriz Pictorial rug depicts Nader Shah Afshar (ruled 1736-47), the founder of the Afsharid dynasty. Known as a military genious, he rose to power during a period of anarchy, united the Persian realm, removed the Ottomans and Russians and deposed the last memebers of the Safavid dynasty. Here he sits under a cartouche containing a Persian verse in his honour and is surrounded by Safavid rulers including Shah Abbas II, Sheikh Safi and Shah Isma'il.