MOHTASHAM KASHAN
Central Persian Antique Rug

(High-Collectible +) ("One of “60 Best-of-Their-Type Rugs Sold in 2022") A precursor to Kashan carpets, officially termed "Mohtasham," this gem is one of the earliest examples of this floral drawing style. During the early 19th century, a prevailing aesthetic arose in Persia and Azerbaijan that favored delicate colors--a challenge to dye so that they remained stable--but which created utterly ethereal carpets, such as this eminently luxurious and beguiling Mohtasham piece. Reflecting the new aesthetic of the time, eschewing the rigor of the Safavid rugs, this piece offers a sense of movement and delicacy, a hint of geometry informing its motifs. It achieves an awesomely spacious placement of unequally petalled, naturally cascading blossoms around a similarly uncrowded medallion. The broad spectrum of diaphanous colors achieved for this rug, illuminated by a mature patina, is responsible for the profound grace and astonishing tranquility it captures. Buff, melon, and Prussian blue are the chromatic zones on which pale celery and olive greens appear globally, supported by tertiary cornflower and celadon blues and touches of lilac and taupe. Endearing individual character and the fragility of every petal and leaf, as well as the avian companions in the accomplished, perfectly proportional border, are expressed through a legendary fineness of weave.

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