Persian Silk Figural Area Rug

Silk on cotton foundation; the central field with pictorial scenes interspersed with writing; the main border with a continuous scenes of battle and figures on horseback, within multiple minor decorative borders.

3 ft. 11 in. x 6 ft.

Private Collection, Edenton, North Carolina

Persian legend is filled with battles and heroic warriors. So much so that it is unclear whether this carpet depicts scenes from the stories of the hero Rostam, or the stories of Amir Arsalan (who fought against a horned beast man), or the tales of Dirar ibn al-Azwar (known as "the bare-chested warrior.") The figure in the upper center is likely Mithra, the ancient Persian god of light. An almost identical rug exists in the Carpet Museum of Iran in Tehran.

Curling to one corner; loss to one fringe end; some fraying to fringes; otherwise good estate condition.