Lot 132

LARGE SAROUK RUG

A high-quality, hand-knotted wool carpet on a cotton warp, a masterpiece belonging to the so-called "Renaissance" movement of Persian urban carpets. The Sarouk region was particularly renowned for producing floral carpets intended for export to the U.S. between approximately 1914 and 1940, and part of this distinct category of Persian carpets is still referred to today as "American Sarouk." The market for these iconic pieces was partly driven by the need to export luxury carpets out of war-torn Europe; however, just as the outbreak of World War I in Europe affected carpet production in Persia, so too did the outbreak of World War II in 1939—this time, however, in the opposite direction, as it brought about the definitive end of the era of American Sarouks. This unique type of Persian carpet gained renown for its flawless craftsmanship, high-quality natural dyes, appealing design, and, last but not least, its dense and lustrous high-mountain wool of exceptional quality. The entire central composition artfully and attractively evokes a blooming Garden of Eden, and the wide floral border with its distinctive palmettes conveys the same sentiment. Even after a century, the quality of the fleece itself proves that only the finest, ultra-fine wool from mountain sheep—spun exclusively by hand—was used in the production of these elegant Sarouks.