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Silk Kashan Carpet

second half 16th century
Not on view
This carpet, possibly woven in the silk trade and carpet manufacturing center of Kashan, has a dark blue quatrefoil medallion at its center. Decorative elements on this and other related carpets from Kashan and Tabriz indicate that weavers may have used pattern books containing popular motifs to guide them in production. These designs are also present in other media, particularly in the arts of the book. The use of metal-wrapped thread in a silk Kashani carpet of this size is unusual, but the high knot count of about 600 knots per inch may have made this expensive material worth its cost given the fine quality of the work.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Silk Kashan Carpet
  • Date: second half 16th century
  • Geography: Made in Iran, probably Kashan
  • Medium: Silk (warp, weft, and pile), metal wrapped thread; asymmetrically knotted pile
  • Dimensions: Mount Dimensions: L. 105 1/2 in. (268 cm)
    W. 76 1/2 in. (194.3 cm)
    Weight in mount: 555 lbs (251.7 kg)
  • Classification: Textiles-Rugs
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
  • Object Number: 14.40.715
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Silk Kashan Carpet, Silk (warp, weft and pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
Silk Kashan Carpet
16th century
Silk Kashan Carpet, Silk (warp, weft and pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
Silk Kashan Carpet
16th century
The Emperor's Carpet, Silk (warp and weft), wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
The Emperor's Carpet
second half 16th century
'Lotto' Carpet, Wool (warp, weft and pile); symmetrically knotted pile
'Lotto' Carpet
16th century
Kitab suwar al-kawakib al-thabita (Book of the Images of the Fixed Stars) of al-Sufi, `Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi Iranian, Ink and gold on paper; leather binding
Kitab suwar al-kawakib al-thabita (Book of the Images of the Fixed Stars) of al-Sufi
`Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi
late 15th century

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