13'5" x 19'8" Antique Persian Kerman Rug | Poetry Cartouches, Tigers and Birds | Circa 1880

Woven around 1880, this oversized Persian Kerman belongs to the small class of antique carpets that combine pictorial weaving with woven literature. Navy cartouches of Persian poetry in flowing calligraphy circle the entire border, while the alabaster white field below teems with life: prowling tigers, perched songbirds, flower filled vases, and flowering trees. Hand knotted at 160 to 180 knots per square inch in pure wool on a cotton foundation, at nearly 13'5" x 19'8" it is a genuine palace size antique.

Design and Motifs

The field reads like a woven garden chronicle: symmetrical vases sprout rose bouquets, blue leafed branches arc between them, and among the flora the weavers placed striped tigers mid stride and small grey and blue birds resting on stems. The sanguine red main border carries large navy cartouches filled with Persian verse alternating with floral medallions, framed by ivory guard bands of blossoms. Rugs that pair animal figures with poetry cartouches at this scale rarely survive from the 19th century.

Colors and Condition

The alabaster white ground (Pantone Alabaster White) has mellowed to a warm glow over 140 years, set against sanguine red, maroon, green, blue, deep navy, and brown. It is in vintage condition consistent with its age, with the softly settled pile and gentle patina that collectors of early Kerman weaving expect. The color closeup and detail photos show the surface honestly.

Size and Placement

At 13'5" x 19'8" this Kerman commands a grand living room, formal dining hall, library, or gallery, and it is equally at home as the centerpiece of a serious collection. Every knot was tied by hand in 100% wool on a cotton foundation. As a direct importer, Rugs.net offers free shipping and free returns to all 50 states, same-day refunds, and our price beat guarantee.