Vase Carpet

"Vase" Carpet

A group of classical Persian carpets of the Safavid period, designated by the name "vase" carpets, is recognized by the opulent colors, distinctive pattern and construction, as well as the customary "vase." Generally this group is attributed to Kerman. Although the carpet is complete except for minor repairs and rebound edges, it should be pointed out that its pattern differs from the usual one by having three instead of four vertical rows of flowers, and one type of flower rather than two repeated in the horizontal rows. The intriguing feature here is the pattern change. After fifty centimeters of weaving were completed, the shapely arabesque was changed to a "vase" design. This strange and unusual feature has yet to find a parallel in the "vase" group of carpets.

The lively thrust of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal movements gives the pattern magnificence and vivacity. Three overlapping ogival stem systems in blue and ivory, carrying regal palmettes, lotuses, and abstract composite forms, accompanied by smaller rosettes and leaves, are surrounded by more delicate floral and plant forms on the red ground of the field. The arabesques in the field are echoed in the main blue border, where a more ponderous, intertwined version overshadows the underlying and schematized spiral floral scroll. The outer guard band has a reciprical motif, and the inner a graceful floral scroll.

Carolyn Kane in [Berlin 1981]

Baron Tucher, Vienna ; Museum für Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt ; Edith Rockefeller McCormick, Chicago (by 1926–d. 1932); her estate(1932–43; sold to Arthur Upham Pope for MMA)

The Art Club of Chicago. "Loan Exhibition of Early Oriental Carpets," 1926, no. 16.

Pope, Arthur Upham. "The Art Club of Chicago." In Catalogue of a Loan Exhibition of Early Oriental Carpets.. 1926. no. 16, pp. 57–59.

Harari, Ralph, and Richard Ettinghausen. A Survey of Persian Art from Prehistoric Times to the Present, edited by Arthur Upham Pope. vol. I–VI. London and New York: Oxford University Press, 1938. vol. III, pp. 2376–77, ill. vol. VI, pl. 121.

Dimand, Maurice S., and Jean Mailey. Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1973. no. 37, pp. 74, 109, ill. fig. 104 (b/w).

"Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York." In The Arts of Islam. Berlin, 1981. no. 97, pp. 232–33, ill. (b/w).

Denny, Walter B. How to Read Islamic Carpets. New Haven and London: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2014. pp. 80–81, ill. figs. 66–67.