Antique Persian Tabriz Pictorial Rug

A wool pile of symmetric knots on a cotton foundation. The scene probably depicts Khusrau and Shirin hunting on horseback, with a pale turquoise stream at the lower right and a townscape at the upper left. Two additional figures appear at the right. The golden yellow to orange-gold ground is enlivened by trees and flowering shrubs in coral red, pale pink, turquoise, ivory, black, navy, lavender, and gray. The narrow ivory border displays alternating red and dark blue diagonal dashes. Khusrau is shown making his shot, leaving the gazelle with three legs, as described in Nizami’s poem.