English: A PICTORIAL KIRMAN CARPET

SOUTH EAST PERSIA, CIRCA 1870

Depicting the narrative of Khosrow and Shirin, in overall very good condition 12ft.7in. x 10ft.3in. (383cm. x 313cm.)

The story of Khosrow and Shirin is one of the most popular ancient stories in the Middle East and the Islamic world, and a source for a great amount of folk art such as poetry, songs and paintings. It tells a highly elaborate fictional version of the story of the love of the Sasanian king, Khosrow II for the Armenian princess Shirin, who ultimately became the queen of Persia, which was already well known from the great epic-historical poem the Shahnameh. In the present carpet, parts of the narrative are illustrated in four horizontal, mirrored bands, culminating in a festive scene where Shirin is depicted playing the harp amongst her courtiers.

The almost caricature-like drawing and execution of this carpet is extremely similar to a Kirman carpet, woven most likely in the same workshop, that once again drew upon the story of Khosrow and Shirin for its inspiration, Christie's, London, 28 October 2021, lot 200. A third carpet, that bears the same main border and guard stripes and is centred with a symmetrical but somewhat fantastical design filled with hunting scenes, writhing serpents, songbirds and feline faces, sold Christie's London, 17 October 2002, lot 169.