Antique Persian Sarab Runner

This antique Sarab runner dates to the second half of the 19th century. It originates in a group of villages roughly half way between Tabriz and Ardabil, south of what Cecil Edwards calls the "Heriz Area Proper" (in: The Persian Carpet. A Survey of the Carpet-Weaving Industry of Persia.  London, Duckworth 1975, p. 62).

The weaving area of Sarab consisted of about 20 villages, with the village of Sarab itself producing the best weavings, so Edwards: "The best woven and the most prized among them have grounds of a lovely shade of camel, with copper-red lozenge-shaped medallions." (op.cit., p. 67). 

The piece in hand is definitely in this superior group. It has a dense weave and is still in full pile, with one small patch at the bottom end. The colour scheme, too, is typical of this type: a pinkish red, light blue, green, yellow and white on the camel coloured ground.

Outstanding in this runner is the reciprocal border, which is flanked by the bold outer border of widely spaced, individual stars on a camel ground - what a stroke of genius!

This is a highly collectible rug for any carpet lover.

Dimensions

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Stock number