The extraordinary quality and true age of this magnificent carpet were correctly assessed by the antiquarian F. R. Martin as early as 1908 and corroborated by others during the first half of the twentieth century, yet the carpet was then virtually forgotten. Donated to the Metropolitan in 1967, it was not included in Dimand and Mailey’s 1973 catalogue of the Museum’s carpets, perhaps because of uncertainties about its date and place of origin.

Carpet, 17th century
 Safavid period (1501–1722)
Silk (warp, weft, and pile), metal wrapped thread; asymmetrically knotted pile.