439. a whimsical antique Mashad Khorassan rug

439. Provenance: Mashad/Khorassan, Northeast Persia

Size: 224 x 155 cm

Age: Circa 1910

Condition: Minor fold wear. One small repaired tear.

Notes: Beautiful and archetypal antique Mashad, with cool restrained natural colours. Particularly of note is the mauvish-red Conchineal (cactus beetle) dye. However, the quirk in this rug, is the design which is much more spacious at one end than the other. Did weavers change? Did they run out of yarn? Dye? These are the mysteries and wonders of oriental carpets! Still, it is technically a fault!