Extremely Fine Unique Persian Qum Rug – Signed

An Extremely Fine and Unique Persian Silk Qum Rug, Central Persia, Silk on Silk Foundation, Signed

Mid 20th Century

A fine and unique Persian Qum silk rug, displaying a star and cross design with a two-tone red field adorned with columns of blue star shaped tiles each with a vase emitting a polychrome floral bouquet

The ton sur ton red field with four columns of seven blue star medallions each enclosing a conical vase issuing a dense poly chrome floral bouquet, surrounded by a red ton sur ton border enclosing continuous blue rectangular pointed cartouches enclosing millefleurs, saffron floral guard borders, red outer surround with floral clusters to each end, signed.

The city of Qum is a recently established centre for the weaving of urban style rugs with workshops appearing there from around 1927 onwards. It rapidly became a significant and important centre for the creation of technically fine silk rugs and carpets, though fine wool pile rugs are also made there. The repertoire of their designs is varied, ranging from designs based on Safavid Persian traditions of the 16th and 17th Centuries, through to individual creative designs of unparalleled technical and artistic visual excellence, which can often be described as groundbreaking. The fine silk used in their rugs allows the highly skilled weavers to draw exceptional precise detail often in minute scale.

This extremely fine Persian Qum silk rug displays a unique interpretation of a Safavid 17th century recognised design referred to as the ‘star and cross’ design. This design appears to originate from a small group of large carpets from Northwest Persia, though examples adopting this style of design also appear to have been made in Khorasan in North East Persia. The Classical ‘Star and Cross’ design show cruciform quatrefoil medallions interlocking with star shaped medallions which enclose boldly drawn angular trees and plants issuing flower heads and leaves. This Persian Qum silk rug rug has adopted this classical format yet replacing the bold pattern details with exceptionally fine floral detailing and cone shaped vases, consistent with the Qum style of representation. This Persian silk rug is exceptional in other ways. The design is perfectly mirrored on the vertical axis, which in both technical and artistic terms is a breath taking in that the extremely fine details in the star medallions including the tiny flower heads are included in the mirroring. Furthermore, it is hard to perceive how the highly skilled weavers have managed to create the perfect mirroring of the red ‘ton sur ton’ details of the quatrefoil medallions. Cleverly, the border displays a reverse of the red ton sur ton colouring which serves to contrast the lighter field tone defining the border as a complementary frame.

Persian Qum rug workshops and master craftsmen appear to be on a mission to create the most technically fine and visually exciting silk rugs to be made in Persia. This Persian Qum silk rug seems to support this endeavour with a profusion of tiny flower heads and associated tendrils which could be described as a ‘millefleurs’ representation. The term ‘millefleurs’ was originally applied to define exceptionally finely rendered floral elements as seen in Persian Kerman Ravar rugs first appearing in the early years of the Persian carpet ‘revival’ from the late 19th century. In this Persian silk Qum rug, the ‘millefleurs’ is seen throughout the entire composition tempered by the red ton sur ton quatrefoils and border panels which serve to give an open uncrowded balance supporting the multi coloured floral profusion. The variety of colours used in this remarkable Persian Qum silk rug is verging on endless and have been juxtaposed to consummate effect to create a unique and significant tour de force in Persian Qum silk rug artistry.

This Persian Qum silk rug is an exceptional work of woven art, which is duly signed by the Master weaver, (Ustad).

Extremely Fine Unique Signed Persian Qum Rug. This piece was handwoven in Qum , 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.