Length 200.0 cm (78 3/4 in.), width 150.0 cm (59 in.)
LNS 7 R
The city of Herat, a famous centre of artistic activities under the Timurids, became renowned
for the high quality and intricate floral designs of its rugs during the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries.
The red ground of this example is densely covered with lotus blossoms, peonies, and other
flowers connected by fine scrolls. In the centre is a small lozenge flanked by two pairs of large
lotus blossoms, suggesting a larger lozenge. This pattern, repeated throughout the rug and
extending beyond the border, is almost camouflaged by the lush vegetation. Other elements,
such as cloud bands and split-leaves, appear in linked reciprocal cartouches forming the border.
This type of rug, although identified with the city of Herat, was also produced in a number of
other centres in Afghanistan and eastern Iran
