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Silk Kashan Carpet

16th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 455
This carpet was possibly woven in Kashan, an important center for silk trade and carpet manufacture during the Safavid period. 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, including the medallions at the center and four corners of this carpet, are also present in other media, particularly in bookbinding and manuscript illumination. The cloud bands and peonies that appear throughout the work originated in Chinese art but had been fully assimilated into Safavid artistic production by this period.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Silk Kashan Carpet
  • Date: 16th century
  • Geography: Made in Iran, probably Kashan
  • Medium: Silk (warp, weft and pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
  • Dimensions: Rug: L. 96 in. (243.8 cm)
    W. 65 in. (165.1 cm)
    Mount: L. 101 3/4 in. (258.4 cm)
    W. 72 1/2 in. (184.2 cm)
    D. 3 in. (7.6 cm)
    Estimated weight: 200 lbs.
  • Classification: Textiles-Rugs
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
  • Object Number: 14.40.724
  • 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
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
The Anhalt Medallion Carpet, Cotton (warp), silk (weft), wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
The Anhalt Medallion Carpet
probably first half 16th century
Carpet, Silk (warp and weft), wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
Carpet
16th century

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