Description
An enormous antique Mahal carpet with a rare ivory off white background, woven with the scrolling Mustafi design which is the elegant flowing vine and flower pattern we see on this carpet, woven in Persia around circa 1890. The design is famous due to the Persian prime minister during the late 19th Century commissioned artisans to create a scrolling spiralling version of the ‘Gol Farang’ (which is a foreign flower; inspired by French and English florals) pattern that was immensely popular at the time. As Ziegler & Co had inspired and created decorative floral carpets being woven in Sultanabad in the late 19th century other workshops locally, such as Mahal, followed suit and these designs were made in competition.
A masterpiece of decorative carpet weaving, the execution of the pattern and symmetry is refined and completed by top weavers over 130 years ago. It would have taken years to weave this huge carpet, and more often these enormous sizes were woven to order for certain rooms in Europe and overseas.
We love to help customers and interior designers source the ideal carpet for a room, if this beautiful antique Mahal carpet is of interest to you please email us to arrange a time to view it in-situ or in our showroom in Crondall, Surrey. We travel all over London the UK & Europe showing our carpets in situ.
Mahal carpets were produced in Sultanabad, Persia which is now Arak in the centre of Iran. Mahal and Sultanabad rugs were made in the same area as the earliest Farahan’s and Sarouk carpets, but they are very different in form and structure. Floral motifs and overall designs of vine scrolls and palmettes remain consistent with the influences of western colour palettes and are all characteristics of Ziegler carpets.
