Afshar tribal weavers were inspired both by luxurious silk and woolen textiles as well as by formal city carpets from the urban weaving centers of Persia. This small rug has a medallion format, which could have easily been adapted from a central Persian (perhaps Fereghan), or even an early Heriz design from the Northwest. Garlanded by clusters of small red flowers, an ivory central medallion illuminates against a deep indigo field, complete with anchoring devices at the top and bottom. The contours of the octagonal shaped field are created not by the inclusion of mere corner pieces, but by an inner frame in the manner of formal Persian city carpets of the 19th century. The spacing of this piece is perfectly balanced and the abrash, or color modulation, of blue is particularly dramatic and pleasing.
Afshar rug size= 3'11" x 4'7" , Inv# 17377
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John Corwin

Published: Murray Eiland (ed.), 'Oriental Rugs from Pacific Collections' (San Francisco: sfbars, 1990), pg 79, pl. 46.
Parviz Tanavoli, 'Afshar: Tribal Weavers from Southeast Iran' (Tehran: matn, 2010) pg. 76, pl. 15. 3.
Hali #57, June 1991, pg. 99.