The Sultanabad pattern was developed in central Persia in the 1800s and refined into the open vine-led field that the late Victorian export trade demanded. The recipe has held. What you are looking at is the contemporary chapter of that tradition.

2 weavers worked the loom over 4 months. Each knot was tied by hand with a hooked steel knife, the wefts passed and beaten into place with a heavy comb after every row. The dye lots were prepared in batches matched against a master skein to hold the colour consistent across the field. The rug is offered in a blue and tan register, made in India.

The composition

Blue and tan carries the field. The pile carries a slight directional sheen that pulls light along the warp. Walked from one end the field looks deeper, walked from the other it lifts. The pattern stays constant but the surface breathes, the optical doubling that no synthetic fibre reproduces. The borders close the field without locking it, the way a frame holds a painting without competing with it. Pairs well with linen, leather, walnut, and oak. Pairs less well with strongly patterned upholstery, where the rug expects to be the dominant graphic element in the room.

The piece in a room

At the format here the rug suits a study, a smaller drawing room, or a primary bedroom. The composition pairs with mid-tone walls and warm wood furniture, and rises against off-white walls as a fielded ground. The size also works as the entry rug for a longer hall, with the pattern reading as one walks across it.

Conservation

Rotate end-for-end every six months so the foot traffic and the sunlight age the field evenly. Vacuum weekly on the lowest setting with the beater off. Address spills immediately with a clean white cotton cloth and cool water. Schedule a hand-wash with a textile conservator every five years. The rug is built to outlive several rooms. Direct sunlight on the field is acceptable and even helpful, since UV restores the dye depth that filtered indoor light slowly dulls.

Reference

• Medium: hand-knotted wool on cotton foundation
• Dimensions: size as listed above
• Construction: Persian asymmetric knot
• Knot density: ~120 KPSI
• Total knot count: ~829,440
• Hands: 2 weavers, 4 months
• Pile: 8-10 mm hand-spun wool
• Origin: India

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