Kirman Medallion Floral Madder Red

Kirman — located in the southeastern province of Kerman, Iran — is regarded as one of the supreme centres of Persian carpet weaving, celebrated for its exceptionally fine knotting, sophisticated curvilinear draftsmanship, and a palette of extraordinary subtlety that has made its antique pieces among the most sought-after in the world.

This large-format antique example, measuring approximately 287 by 305 centimetres, presents a classic medallion composition on a warm madder red field that has mellowed to a rich, oxidised terracotta through age, with a central rosette medallion anchoring a densely populated field of shah-abbasi palmettes, lotus blossoms, and sinuous vine scrolls rendered in faded ivory, soft powder blue, and amber gold — the characteristic Kirman palette at its most refined.

The pile, worn to an honest low level consistent with its age, imparts a silky, tapestry-like planarity that only deepens the luminosity of the colours, while the multi-band border carries a continuous floral meander punctuated by cartouche reserves, flanked by narrow geometric guard stripes that frame the composition with scholarly precision. A piece of this age, scale, and provenance carries the quiet authority of a museum-calibre textile — deeply collectible, architecturally commanding, and suited to spaces where history and beauty are permitted to coexist without apology.