An antique Amritsar carpet, north India, c. 453 x 354 cm.
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Around 1890-1910. Of 'Salting' design. An ivory ground with hunting predators, dragons and birds. A large polychrome medallion and corner ornament, with a flower and a palmette vine as well as birds and cloud bands. A wide light main border with cartouches, cloud bands and plant vines.
Literature
Compare Sarre, Friedrich 'Vienna Book', Orientalische Teppiche, Vienna, 1892-96, plate 15.
More information
The carpet is a direct copy of the 16th-century Lobanov-Rostowsky's 'Salting' carpet, first published in 'The Vienna Book', Orientalische Teppiche, Vienna, 1892-96, plate 15, which is in the collections of the Hermitage in St Petersburg. The name 'Salting' derives from George Salting who owned the carpets of similar design that is in The Victoria and Albert Museum, The David Collection, The Hermitage collections today. Like the rest of the group, it has cartouches with sweeping calligraphic Persian poetry, likely by the great Iranian poet Hafiz (1325-1389).