| Antique Silk Persian Tabriz, circa 1900
Tradition holds that only God can make a perfect thing, but this exquisite antique silk Tabriz certainly comes close. For sheer harmony of graphic detail and overall grandeur, this carpet has no peers, going back to the classic Persian masterpieces made for the Safavid Shahs. On this carpet the traditional emphasis on rich effects of color is still at work, in contrast to the more subdued, golden palette more typical of antique Tabrizes. Beneath the delicate, lacy texture of the arabesque detail that fills the medallion and comer pieces, there is a remarkable geometric substructure of star, cruciform, and oval shapes, attesting to the masterful design of the carpet. We enjoy the rug at the surface level, but only because there is a world of complexity just beyond our view.
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