It was commissioned as one of a pair by the ruler of iran shah tahmasp for the shrine of his ancestor shaykh safi al din in the town of ardabil in north west iran.
Victoria albert museum ardabil carpet.
Unknown to the museum at the time there was a second ardabil more finely knotted which is now in the los angeles county museum of art.
The ardabil carpet measures 10 51m x 5 34m 34 6 x 17 6 and is thought to be one of the largest carpets in the world.
The ardabil carpet is one of the largest and finest islamic carpets in existence.
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The carpets were located side by side in the shrine.
The pile of the carpet is made from wool rather than silk because it holds dye better.
Originally there were two presumably identical carpets and the london carpet as restored and reconstructed in the 19th century uses sections from both.
Victoria and albert museum london the entire surface of the ardabil carpet is covered by a single integrated design an impressive feat considering the carpet s great size.
Combinations of yellow indigo and red dye pigments forged from pomegranate and indigo are embedded into each knotted wool strand.
Among the world s most famous artifacts the ardabil carpet and its mate in the victoria and albert museum london are products of the great flowering of the arts particularly those of textile an.
It surrounds a huge rectangular field which has a large yellow medallion in its centre.
This is an exquisite carpet with a millefleur design over the entire field superimposed onto a formal geometric medallion design.
It is also of great historical importance.
Today the ardabil carpet dominates the main islamic art gallery in the victoria and albert museum in london while its twin is in the los angeles county museum of art.
V a victoria and albert museum.
The ardabil carpet on display at the victoria and albert museum.
The border is composed of four parallel bands.
The medallion became popular during the 16th century and is still a traditional pattern that is used today.