EXEMPLARY ANTIQUE AND CUSTOM CARPETS
 

POLONAISE ISFAHAN (PERSIA), EARLY 17TH CENTURY

So-called ‘Polonaise’ rugs are perhaps the most desirable and sought-after carpets created during the Safavid period—considered the apex of the art of carpet weaving. Although woven in the court workshops of the Persian Emperor Shah Abbas I (r. 1587-1629), these intriguing carpets have long been known in the West as ‘Polonaise’ (the French for Polish). The confusion in the identification of these carpets stems from a 19th century misattribution of their origin during the infancy of carpet scholarship in the West. Several such carpets owned by the Czartoryski family of Poland, embellished with European coats-of-arms, were exhibited in Paris at the Universal Exhibition of 1878. As these sumptuous silk and metal thread carpets were materially unlike any known Eastern rugs and incorporated the arms of a noble European family, it was assumed that these carpets were woven in Poland. This misnomer was generally accepted throughout the 19th century and was still espoused by several prominent carpet specialists well into the 20th century. However, more grounded research—supported by the written accounts of several European travelers to Persia during the 17th century—have firmly established the Isfahan attribution for these pieces.In the late 16th century, Shah Abbas I moved the royal carpet workshops to his new capital at Isfahan. Here, a new design sensibility was developed that incorporated traditional Islamic designs with European influences known to the court designers through diplomatic channels and burgeoning international trade. Of the all the types of carpets woven during this period, ‘Polonaise’ carpets best demonstrate this the innovative Shah Abbas style. The unabashed luxury of these pieces, created through the juxtaposition of jewel-toned silk and precious metal thread, was an apt reflection of the power, wealth and magnificence of Shah Abbas’ court. The design of these pieces simplified and slightly enlarged the scale of the traditional interlacing floral vinery, arabesques and palmettes to allow the visual interplay of the silk and metal thread to shine through in its fullest glory. The boldness of the strap-work motifs evident in many ‘Polonaise’ carpets demonstrates the influence of European renaissance and baroque design motifs. It should be noted, however, that this interchange of pattern ideas was not solely in the Easterly direction. The European conceit of strap-work and arabesques was in itself based on Eastern sources.During the 17th century, ‘Polonaise’ carpets were as coveted by noble and rich Europeans as much as they were by Shah Abbas and his courtiers. These carpets reached the West as diplomatic gifts from the Shah to his European counterparts, as well as through the trade contacts encouraged by the Persian court. As evidenced by the Czartoryski pieces, noble Europeans also commissioned pieces woven with their armorials. In the West, ‘Polonaise’ carpets were symbols of the wealth, sophistication and social prominence of their owners and were often prominently depicted in portraits and paintings commemorating historic events. The current museum holdings of ‘Polonaise’ carpets in Europe are largely from the historical collections of the nobility and gentry.The popularity of ‘Polonaise’ carpets in the West continued through the collecting boom of Eastern carpets during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The industrial and banking barons of this time, especially in the United States, were forming art collections that rivaled the noble collections of Europe’s past and carpets comprised an important aspect of these holdings. The Rockefeller, Morgan, Deering and Yerkes families all owned examples of ‘Polonaise’ carpets which now hold prominent positions in the carpet collections of American museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago.Even though ‘Polonaise’ carpets have held a dominant and seemingly numerous position in the Western fascination with Eastern carpets, the pieces themselves are quite rare. Today, less than 250 ‘Polonaise’ carpets are known to be extant, with most of these examples secure for the future in museum collections. We are extremely fortunate with the present example to have a ‘Polonaise’ carpet that remains in such outstanding condition. Unfortunately, many existing ‘Polonaise’ carpets have suffered with the passage of time. The remarkable retention of silk pile, metal thread and coloration of our carpet allows us to experience the presence and beauty of ‘Polonaise’ carpets in the same manner as Shah Abbas and the 17th century European nobility.

Dimensions: 4' 6" x 6' 5"
Origin: Persia
Materials: Silk pile, gold, silver & copper supplementary weft brocade, cotton foundation
Predominant Color(s): green
Stock Number: 2608