In the late nineteenth century the Arak region of Persia catered especially to western markets, with the London firm of Ziegler established in Sultanabad and directly involved in the design and manufacture of the finest Mahal or “Sultanabad” carpets.

On this elegant piece, a lobed star-medallion filled with graceful arabesques set against an aubergine ground hovers amidst an elaborate allover openwork floral lattice, with corresponding cornerpieces at the outer edges of the field. The lattice is in turn composed of arabesques arranged in a diamond configuration.

The delicacy of the drawing is matched by the softness of the palette, especially the blues, and the warm, subtle yellow field. A graceful border of serial palmettes provides an appropriate frame, while its soft blue ground picks up the coloration of the lattice details. This carpet epitomizes the superior standards of the Ziegler workshop that produced the very finest Sultanabads.