Antique Mahal Carpet

Period: Late 19th Century
Origin: Mahal
Dimensions: 310 x 435 cm

This rare late 19th century Persian Mahal rug highlights a powerful and rhythmic floral composition featuring an expansive, all-over botanical lattice of oversized palmettes and scrolling vines anchored within a luminous celadon-green field. This structural balance between the airy, pastel-toned ground and the fluid movement of the large-scale “Shah Abbasi” floral motifs reflects the pinnacle of the Mahal weaving tradition in the Arak region. Mahal rugs of this antiquity and color palette are world-renowned for their decorative elegance and their ability to harmonize with sophisticated Western interior aesthetics while maintaining the technical integrity of traditional Persian artistry.

The color palette is masterfully balanced, featuring a primary celadon-green ground that serves as a dramatic canvas for high-contrast shifts of terracotta-red, soft sky blue, and golden saffron. These rich and enduring tones, achieved through the expert application of natural dyes over 130 years ago, exhibit a chromatic strength and a saturated depth that are hallmarks of the finest 19th-century Sultanabad-region productions. The inclusion of a wide, terracotta-ground primary border—decorated with a rhythmic sequence of intricate floral rosettes and interlocking vinework—creates a precise visual frame that highlights the superior wool quality and the distinctive technical finesse of the weavers.

Structural analysis indicates the use of premium hand-spun local wool with a characteristically soft, resilient pile and a supple, substantial handle. The exceptional clarity of the botanical outlines—specifically the elegant, feather-like serrated leaves and the precisely rendered floral hearts—and the presence of significant, harmonious abrash throughout the green and red sections definitively distinguish this antique masterpiece as an authentic late 19th-century artifact. Ultimately, this Mahal rug stands as a premier example of Persian decorative art, representing a peak in both technical endurance and graphic majesty for global textile collectors.

Stock No : 2449

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