Melayer carpet (cotton warp and weft, wool pile), Northwest Persia, circa 1940-1980. (Slight wear and fraying.) Length: 324 cm; Width: 147 cm. The navy blue background is decorated with the Herati motif. This pattern consists of a lozenge formed by curved stems, enclosing a rosette and topped by a palmette at each apex, repeated ad infinitum, with four falciform leaves next to each other. This design adorned the Herat carpets (to which it owes its name). The whole composition is embellished with four ivory spandrels. Three narrow red and ivory borders with geometric flower garlands surround the composition. Expert : Alexandre CHEVALIER