Antique Sarouk carpets are amongst the most luxurious decorative Persian room-size carpets. Their style, quality, and quiet formality have made them extremely popular in the West, particularly during the 19th century. They were created in the same region of western Persia as Ziegler Sultanabad and Mahal carpets, and are distinguished by their tighter, more sophisticated weaves and excellent quality wool.

This c. 1900s example, being an earlier piece, has a remarkably high-grade weave, lending a crisp clarity to its drawing, with rich dyes and creative compositions typical of the finest Sarouk carpets of its period. The all-over design of this particular carpet represents an unusually balanced layout for a piece of this era, with a rare sense of restrained elegance, especially compared to the traditional, more crowded, central medallion design. The light terracotta field works to compliment the wide array of gracefully aged vegetable dyed colours in the drawing, and the faded sky-blue abrash – or, subtle variation in tone – across the wide surrounding border lends a real feeling of depth to its otherwise simple, restrained composition.

Retained in very good practical condition for everyday use, with its borders preserved on all sides – its colours have taken on a charming age-related patina.

An elegant carpet, with a quiet formality which would feel at home in a wide variety of settings.