An Afshar Sofreh, South Persia

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AN AFSHAR SOFREH, SOUTH PERSIA, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY "This rug is formed of shawl-inspired vertical bands of varying widths and colours containing numerous small floral and boteh elements. It has the usual Afshar multiple borders (7). The main one consists of a diagonal-banded pattern. Another consists of double opposed rows of delicate bird-like forms. The ends of the rug have panels in weft-float brocading with geometrical forms on a red or brown background. The knotting is symmetrical on madder-coloured warps. Wefts are of a similar colour with 2 and sometimes 4 shoots. The warp ends are braided after a narrow band of kelim weave." (Benjamin, op.cit. , p.8). Approximately 113 x 110cm LITERATURE: Benjamin, Paul, South Persian Rugs, Bags and Saddle Covers: from the collection of Paul R Benjamin, 3rd ed., 2004, pp. 8-9 "These small barrel-shaped fine rugs with a flexible weave form a special group of Afshars that are well known in the rug literature ( Hali, issue 6 page 135, 1979). Their small size and high quality suggests may have had been used as a sofreh, perhaps for special guests. They vary in the details of their central field but examples with this vertical-band design are known in the rug literature (Herrmann, E., Seltene Orienttepiche IV, pl 71., 1981; Hali, issue 155 page 155, 2008)." (Benjamin, op.cit. , p.8) Condition Report: Lovely quality, pile quite thin, a couple of small splits which would benefit from conservation