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"Portuguese" Carpet with Maritime Scenes

17th century
Not on view
This is one of a group of unusual carpets, long referred to as "Portuguese" carpets because of the European figures in Portuguese dress that appear in them. In the center of the field are five concentric lozenge‑shaped medallions decorated with flowering vines. The maritime scene in each corner contains ships manned by Europeans. In addition, fish, a wide‑mouthed sea monster, and a small half‑submerged nude human figure, which is probably a merman, swim in the water. The exact source and meaning of the scene are unknown.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Portuguese" Carpet with Maritime Scenes
  • Date: 17th century
  • Geography: Made in Northeastern Iran, Khurasan
  • Medium: Cotton (warp, weft, and pile); wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
  • Dimensions: Carpet:
    L. 161 3/4 in. (410.8 cm)
    W. 70 5/8 in. (179.4 cm)
    Wt. 44 lbs. (29.5) with 8" tube
    Left side of the Carpet:
    L. 161 in. (408.9 cm)
    Right side of the carpet:
    L. 158 3/4 in. (403.2 cm)
    Top of the Carpet:
    W. 68 in. (172.7 cm)
    Bottom of the carpet: W. 70 1/2 in. (179.1 cm)
  • Classification: Textiles-Rugs
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1944
  • Object Number: 44.63.6
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
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The 'Nigde' Carpet, Cotton (warp and weft), wool (pile); symmetrically knotted pile
The 'Nigde' Carpet
18th century
Vase-technique Carpet with Overlapping Cartouches, Cotton (warp), silk (weft), wool (weft and pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
Vase-technique Carpet with Overlapping Cartouches
17th century
Blue-ground Carpet Fragment with Scrolling Floral Vines, Cotton (warp), wool (weft and pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
Blue-ground Carpet Fragment with Scrolling Floral Vines
17th century
Fragment of a Garden Carpet, Cotton (warp and weft); wool (pile); symmetrically knotted pile
Fragment of a Garden Carpet
18th century
Silk Animal Carpet, Silk (warp, weft, and pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
Silk Animal Carpet
second half 16th century

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