TABRIZ, PERSIA, Western region Very fine wool carpet, its animal garden inspired by Persian miniatures Circa 1900 W. 132 cm - D. 205 cm Good condition with some wear, fringes and borders to be revised Iran has long had an Armenian community, which would explain the Christian inspiration in the centre of the rug. The writings in the four cartouches are lovely poems by the great Persian poet Saadi SHIRAZI (1210-1291). Each of the four poems has a theme of nature, friendship, love and wisdom. They begin with "the trees have blossomed, the nightingales have become drunk, friends are gathered around a glass..." and end with "not having found the path of madness, many people have taken the path of reason".