Antique Silk Kashan Prayer Rug (Late 19th Century)

Description

This antique silk Kashan prayer rug is a masterpiece of late-19th-century Persian weaving, representing the refinement and spiritual grace that made Kashan one of Persia’s most celebrated silk-weaving centers.

Woven entirely of fine silk on silk foundation, this rug exhibits extraordinary delicacy and precision. Although structured as a prayer rug, it was almost certainly created for display as a wall hanging, reserved for collectors and connoisseurs of exceptional artistry.

The composition reveals a central vase of life from which flowering branches ascend toward a mihrab-shaped arch (minaret)—a visual metaphor for paradise and divine beauty. Two elegant birds flank the vase, surrounded by blossoms in soft blue and rose tones, symbolizing rebirth, serenity, and eternal joy.

Its borders reflect classic Kashan design, featuring delicate rose hues adorned with birds and running animals, framed by twin guard bands that balance symmetry and movement. The harmonious interplay of ivory, blue, gold, and blush pink tones creates an atmosphere of peace and quiet grandeur.

Provenance

• Collection: The Ballantyne Collection – Rugs & Carpets from Persia

• Catalogue Entry: No. 2 – Kashan Silk

• Estimated Knot Density: Approx. 2,175,000 total knots (≈10×9 per cm²)

• Origin: Kashan, Central Persia

• Period: Late 19th Century

• Silk on Silk • 4’0” × 6’5” (122 × 196 cm)

• Knot Density (sq inch):  400

Condition

• Overall: Fair condition for age; the silk is fragile and brittle, typical of fine 19th-century Kashan silk rugs.

• Details:

  • Small ½-inch professionally stabilized repair on border (2/3 down).

  • No end fringes.

  • Wear along bindings and minor curvature in borders.

  • Color variation between upper mihrab area and main field.

  • Back fitted with a fabric strip and three metal rings for easy wall hanging.

• The rug is stored in a custom protective bag to preserve its integrity and prevent further aging.

Design & Symbolism

In Persian tradition, the prayer rug serves as both a spiritual gateway and a work of art—a reflection of paradise on earth.
This particular Kashan silk piece combines floral and avian imagery with luminous hues that embody both earthly and heavenly paradise—a timeless theme in Persian aesthetics.

Collector’s Note

This is a rare and museum-worthy antique Kashan silk—a poetic relic from the Golden Age of Persian weaving.
Its prayer-arch composition, silk-on-silk weave, and delicate depiction of paradise make it an exceptional choice for serious collectors, museums, or discerning interior designers seeking a spiritual and historical focal point.

Perfect for framing or wall display, this rug carries the quiet grace of a bygone era—a window into the Persian vision of paradise.