Antique Tabriz rug, Azerbaijan, NW Iran, early 20th century, Nazmiyal Collection, 11 ft 09 in x 15 ft (3.58 m x 4.57 m)

Antique Tabriz, Persia, 1910s - This sumptuous antique Tabriz recalls the great Persian court carpets of the seventeenth century with its lavish all over design of vinescrolls and palmettes, surrounded by a lush vinescroll border as well. But the delicate range of colors in cinnamons and pale, watery blues is very different from the vibrant palette of the classical forerunners. Instead, its reserved sensibility has considerable decorative flexibility, adapting the grace and elegance of classic Persian carpets to more modern possibilities. The lustrous wool of the pile sets off the beauty of the design to great effect.