Fine Silk Qum Rug, Central Persia

Qum — or Qom — is among the most revered of all Persian weaving centres, producing carpets and rugs of exceptional fineness that have been prized by serious collectors since the early twentieth century. This outstanding silk rug exemplifies the very best of the tradition, its extraordinarily fine weave of approximately one hundred knots per square centimetre permitting a level of detail and precision quite beyond the capabilities of wool.

The elegant design is executed in a well-balanced palette of colours, the lustrous silk pile catching the light with the characteristic shimmer that distinguishes genuine Qum work from all imitations. The structure is exemplary throughout: original selvages intact, original kilim ends, and fringes in their original condition — increasingly rare in pieces of this quality.

At 157 by 99 centimetres, this is a rug well suited to display over a table, hung on a wall, or used as a centrepiece in a smaller room. In superb full-pile condition throughout. An outstanding example of one of the world's great weaving traditions.