This lovely rug was woven by the Shahsavan tribal weavers of North-West Persia, and dates to around 1880.The Shahsavan are better known for their soumac weaving, in particular their soumac saddlebags and cargo bags. But in the 19th century they also wove some wonderful piled rugs. This piece is a fine example. Woven on a wool foundation, the weave is fine and the wool is soft and glossy. The formal design of rows of stylised botehs is beautifully executed in subtle colours including the sapphire blue background and earthy shades of terracotta, yellow, browns and light blues. Random geometric ornaments fill some of the space between the botehs in a charming way. The geometric ivory border forms a perfect frame for this composition. The rug has survived in very good condition. The original ends and selvages are intact. The pile is generally good and even with some minor corrosion to the brown in a few places. The format also supports its nomadic origin, a size often seen in domestic trib...