Antique Persian Lilian Rug Size: 5' × 6'5" Date: 1900s Material: Wool on Cotton Lilian is a weaving village in the Arak district of west-central Iran, an area known for producing finely drawn floral rugs in the Sarouk and Mahal tradition. Lilian rugs tend to be slightly more loosely woven than their Sarouk counterparts but share the same love of dense, all-over floral patterning on saturated grounds. The brilliant madder red field is covered edge to edge with a symmetrical floral lattice — curving vines, large palmettes, serrated leaves, and paisley forms spreading outward from a central axis. There is no medallion; the pattern fills the field completely and evenly, which gives the rug a bold, uninterrupted presence. The wide navy border carries a continuous floral scroll punctuated by large corner medallions, framing the field with good weight. The palette is vivid — red, deep navy, ivory, soft gold, and dusty rose — and the contrast between the warm field and cool border is what gives this rug its immediate visual punch. A strong example of early 20th-century Persian village weaving at an accessible size.