This 4.5' x 6' Hand-Knotted Persian Tabriz "Omar Khayyam" Pictorial Rug features a classic scene inspired by the poetry of the famous Persian polymath and poet, Omar Khayyam.
Artistic & Cultural Significance
- The Imagery (Omar Khayyam): This iconic scene illustrates a central theme from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam—the celebration of love, youth, wine, and music in a fleeting world. It depicts a young woman playing a traditional stringed instrument (resembling a tar or setar) while a seated man drinks from a wine cup amidst a flowering garden.
- Intricate Vases and Flora: The top and bottom sections of the central field feature intricate Zil-i Sultan (vases with flowers) motifs, which traditionally represent abundance and the eternal garden of paradise.
- Detailed Medallion Border: The borders are densely filled with stylized floral motifs, scrolling vines, and miniature palmettes that perfectly frame the central romantic scene.
- True Vintage Condition: The intense uniformity of the pink/rose field, the pristine condition of the fringe, and the perfectly intact selvages (sides) seen in Image 3 strongly indicate it is a vintage piece (approx. 40 to 65 years old) rather than a 100+ year-old antique.
- Exceptional Knot Density: Image 1 shows a close-up of a dense, extremely tight weave on the reverse side. The precise alignment of the rows confirms a high-grade Raj count (knot density per unit area), a hallmark of professional master weavers from Tabriz, Iran.
- Perfect Symmetry: Image 3 shows that the back of the rug is an absolute mirror image of the front, proving excellent tension and expert hand-knocking on a rigid city loom.
