The Rothschild Small Silk Medallion Carpet

This beautiful and rare silk rug is known as the "Rothschild Small Silk Medallion Carpet" after its illustrious former owner (a member of the prominent Rothschild banking family). The name scholars gave to this carpet also refers to its decoration: a central almond-shaped medallion set against a rich purple red background with colourful floral tendrils, blue cartouches with flaming cloudbands, and four large cornerpieces. The borders present an unusual decoration of flowering vines with rosettes that resembles patterns typical of coeval complex figured textiles such as velvet damasks and brocades. This luxurious carpet was probably made in the city of Kashan (present-day central Iran) around the mid-10th century AH/16th century CE, although this attribution - first made by Rudolph Riefstahl in the early 20th century - has not been conclusively proven. Few carpets from the time of Shah Tahmasp survive nowadays and our main source of information about these artefacts remains early Safavid manuscript painting. The remarkable state of preservation and the vibrant colour palette of this carpet suggest that it must have been rarely used after its completion and was carefully stored, reaching us in such wonderful conditions.