17th century
Iran
Object qualities
-
Object
-
Type of arts & crafts
-
MediumCotton (warp, weft, and pile); wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile
-
SizeCarpet: L. 161 3/4 in. (410.8 cm) W. 70 5/8 in. (179.4 cm) Wt. 44 lbs. (29.5) with 8" tube Left side of the Carpet: L. 161 in. (408.9 cm) Right side of the carpet: L. 158 3/4 in. (403.2 cm) Top of the Carpet: W. 68 in. (172.7 cm) Bottom of the carpet: W. 70 1/2 in. (179.1 cm)
-
Geography detailsMade in
Iran -
Country today
-
Date17th century
Source of information
-
Type of sourceDatabase “Metropolitan Museum of Art”
-
Fund that the source refers toMetropolitan Museum of Art
Description
-
This is one of a group of unusual carpets, long referred to as “Portuguese” carpets because of the European figures in Portuguese dress that appear in them. In the center of the field are five concentric lozenge‑shaped medallions decorated with flowering vines. The maritime scene in each corner contains ships manned by Europeans. In addition, fish, a wide‑mouthed sea monster, and a small half‑submerged nude human figure, which is probably a merman, swim in the water. The exact source and meaning of the scene are unknown.