Antique Persian Sultanabad Rug Size: 6' × 9'1" Date: 1850s Material: Wool on Cotton Sultanabad — present-day Arak — was established as a weaving centre in the mid-19th century to meet growing European and American demand for large Persian carpets. The finest early examples, like this one, predate the commercial pressures that would later standardize the designs, and carry a spontaneity and depth of colour that later production rarely matched. What immediately distinguishes this rug is the open field. A large indigo medallion sits at centre on an expansive madder red ground with almost nothing surrounding it — no scatter fill, no secondary motifs cluttering the space. It's a confident compositional choice that lets the field colour do the work, and the aged madder has developed a warm, abrash-rich tone that gives the surface real depth and life. A small pendant floats above and below the medallion, and faint corner spandrels in indigo echo the border at the edges. The border is densely worked by contrast — a wide floral meander in indigo, olive, and ivory that frames the spare field with considerable detail. The tension between the open centre and the busy border is what makes this rug visually interesting. At over 170 years old, the pile shows honest wear consistent with its age, and the natural dyes have only improved with time.