A VERY FINE TABRIZ CARPET, Azerbaijan (north west Persia), early 20th century.

Tabriz has for centuries enjoyed a great reputation as a centre of Oriental culture. The vicissitudes of its history, its development from a naturally favored oasis at the foot of the volcano Sahand, to today's commercial centre, and descriptions of its artists and craftsmen could fill many volumes. Here, a rough outline of its cultural contribution to the Oriental carpet can best be explained by this carpet with green colouring and powerfully uncluttered decorative approach, combined with the fine quality of the knotting and excellence of materials - all indicative of an attribution to the famous master-workshop from which originated many of the greatest Tabriz works.

This splendid example has a very characteristic Tabriz palette and a wonderfully spaced design, each element of which is drawn with extraordinary precision and grace.

This lovely old Tabriz with particularly pleasing colours is an excellent carpet that can be placed in the dining or living room with underlay.