Fragment of a Garden carpet

Date17th-18th century

Label TextWoven, walked upon, celebrated, torn apart, collected and displayed—spanning centuries and continents, the history of this piece of carpet is worthy of an epic. Handloomed in Persia (Iran) in the 16th century, this depiction of a pleasure garden filled with real and imaginary flora and fauna exemplified Safavid taste, quality and materials. The wear pattern indicates that, for at least part of its history, this carpet covered a floor. According to a catalogue, by the 20th century a portion of the original had journeyed from western Asia to Europe, and was featured in a London exhibition in 1928. Finally, by 1965, the carpet had been divided yet again, and a section arrived at the Seattle Art Museum, to be preserved and displayed in this final state.

Object number65.37

ProvenancePublished as part of a larger fragment of a carpet in Jekyll's Ltd., "Exhibition of 16-19 century Oriental Carpets and Rugs," London, June 12 - August 31, 1928, no. 12, p. 13; Kelekian collection, New York, by 1955; acquired from Kelekian estate by [Adolph Loewi, Inc., Los Angeles, by 1955 - 1965]; purchased by Seattle Art Museum, January 1965

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, The Warp and the Weft of Islam: Oriental Carpet and Weavings from Pacific Northwest Collections, Mar. 10 - Apr. 15, 1978 (Portland, Oregon, Portland Art Museum, July 28 - Sept. 2, 1979). Text by Jere L. Bacharach and Irene A. Bierman. Cat. no. 45, reproduced p. 92.

Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection

Dimensions36 x 24 3/16 in. (91.5 x 61.5 cm)

MediumPile woven and knotted wool