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Persia, Isfahan, early seventeenth century
Silk pile, silver and silver gilt thread
209 x 140 cm
Inv. no. T. 71
These carpets gained their name from the fact that some of them included Polish coats-of-arms. Luxury products made in Persia at imperial workshops, probably in Isfahan, the capital chosen by Shah Abbas (1587-1629), they were basically used as high quality gifts for European courts. Since Abbas greatly appreciated sumptuous silks and carpets, textile production flourished in that Central Persian city under his patronage.
The carpet in the Gulbenkian Collection has the customary characteristics of this type: the composition is dominated by large arabesques and palmettes, and has a shield-shaped motif in the centre surrounded by rosettes and other stylised flowers in very pale pastel shades. The main colours are the green of the ground, salmon, yellow, blue and ivory, enhanced with silver and silver gilt thread.
The border has the same colours as the field and is covered in palms and leaves. The beautiful long silk fringes are also of some note.
Provenance / Bibliography
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