3 x 5 Antique Persian Malayer Rug 79170

79170 Late 19th Century Antique Persian Malayer Rug, 03'02 x 05'00.

This exquisite hand-knotted wool antique Persian Malayer rug, dating to the late 19th century, is a small-scale masterpiece woven with the enduring spirit of village craftsmanship. Its luminous palette of deep indigo, vibrant orange, and earthy camel tones evokes the enchanting hues of twilight descending upon the valleys of western Iran. At its heart, a delicate hexagonal medallion unfurls with geometric precision, nestled within a diamond-shaped reserve. This central form is surrounded by a tableau of stylized floral and tribal motifs, their arrangement carefully balanced to create a sense of rhythmic harmony and ancestral continuity.

The field, saturated in midnight blue, is alive with an intricate array of boteh motifs, serrated leaves, and abstract blossoms—all rendered with angular finesse. These motifs, drawn from ancient Persian iconography, reflect themes of rebirth, vitality, and the eternal cycles of nature. Tiny scattered rosettes and floating vine tendrils hint at the Malayer weaver’s intuitive artistry, where symmetry mingles with improvisation. Each form, though abstracted, is rooted in meaning—symbols of fertility, protection, and cosmic order woven into the fabric of daily life.

Burnt orange spandrels anchor each corner of the field, their bold coloration offering a spirited contrast to the solemn navy blue backdrop. These corner elements, with their tribal totems and checkerboard motifs, speak to the nomadic and regional influences that permeated Malayer rug weaving traditions. The spandrels frame the composition like a celestial compass, drawing the viewer’s eye inward toward the medallion while also grounding the piece in a geometric framework passed down through generations.

Enclosing this storied field is a dynamic border composed of meandering vines, serrated blossoms, and elemental shapes, all set against a soft blue ground. This classic Persian Malayer border is flanked by inner and outer guard bands filled with diminutive rosettes—sentinel-like in their presence—protecting the central design. This Malayer rug, though modest in size, holds a majestic presence, a relic of Persia’s golden age of weaving. It is a woven testament to the poetic dialogue between form and function, nature and geometry, tradition and the soul of the weaver.

• Abrash. Age Wear.
• Hand knotted wool.
• Made in Iran.
• Measures: 03'02 x 05'00.
• Pile Height: 0.18 of an inch.
• Date: 1890's. Late 19th Century.