Fine Persian Tabriz Rug – Art Nouveau Design

This signed fine and rare Persian silk Tabriz rug is more significant than might first appear. It commands a detailed explanation from the origins of the design, and demonstrates how carpet and rug patterns evolve and reinvent themselves crossing cultural boundaries to create original works of  art which will consequently stand the test of time.

The original basis of the design as presented in this Persian Silk Tabriz rug is seen in the Classical Safavid silk and brocaded metal thread rugs dating to the early 17th Century and entitled ‘Polonaise’, originating from either Isfahan or Kashan during the reign of Shah Abbas 1st, (1587-1629), who was a great Patron of the Arts, and as such rug and carpet weaving flourished under his patronage. Polonaise rugs epitomised the wealth and opulent taste of the Persian Court at that time. Through ambassadorial and trade routes with the East, many of these exceptionally fine opulent ‘new’ rugs found great favour with the Baroque nobility of 17th Century Europe. The design of Persian Polonaise rugs essentially shows varying design planes of arabesques, strap work, flowering curvilinear vines overlaid with assertive floral forms. This historically important group of recognisable classical rugs attracted the interest of the prominent carpet designers of the Arts and Crafts Movement of the twilight years of the 19th Century heralding a unique episode in British culture. This sparked off a wholesale reaction against the bad design and industrial mass production which is a reaction still present today more than a century later, particularly significant and successful in hand made rug production.

The prominent and now famous carpet designers of the Arts and Crafts movement were William Morris, and C.F.A Voysey, in England and Gavin Morton in Donegal, Ireland. In brief, rug designs were based on varied traditions, including Persian and Anatolian established recognisable designs, of which Morris and Voysey were particularly focussed on. Morris’s finest carpets were made in Hammersmith, London. In the main the original Persian designs were stripped of fine details with the pattern elements remaining as basic forms with the same flow of pattern, drawn in an original ‘Art Nouveau style’ and layered to give depth in the same way as the original Persian principles of pattern format. The result of the ‘Morris’ creations was nothing short of sensational and which had a profound impact in decoration styles into the 20th Century. His interpretations of Persian patterns have a timeless quality, and are established as a significant artistic style and genre in its own right which has its own important status in hand made carpet art. For further information  see; Haslam, M. Arts And Crafts Carpets, David Black, 1991. 

This remarkable Persian Tabriz rug displays an understanding of the Arts and Crafts style and presents a new interpretation and development of this design style. To a degree this reverts back to the original Classical ‘Polonaise’ design incorporating a mix of both styles to produce a magnificent highly decorative 20th Century Persian hybrid. This is epitomised by a mix of Art Nouveau motifs combined with traditional Persian iconography exemplified by the the drawing of the scrolling vinery and reciprocal trefoil border pattern which are Persian in style.

The insight of the master weaver is truly brilliant as the end product stands as a testament to successful combination of seemingly different styles of representation resulting in unique work of woven art.

This rug would be meaningless if the colours were incompatible. However the colours selected and combined, displaying  shades of purple, violet and saffron with associated accent tones serve to enhance and support the accomplished artistry of the master weaver whos’  signature appears at the top end of the rug.

Fine Persian Tabriz Rug Art Nouveau Design Silk. This piece was handwoven in Tabriz , Iran. For further information please contact us and our team will be pleased to assist you. All pieces in the collection are under the auspices of Essie Sakhai, one of the world’s foremost experts and collectors of fine handmade Persian rugs and carpets.