Antique Indian Agra carpet of 'Ardabil' design. www.knightsantiques.co.uk Circa 1880. Size: 11ft 8in x 8ft 11in (355 x 273cm). A superb and very finely woven Agra carpet, with the 16 lobed ivory coloured central circular medallion, with lanterns hanging at each end. The dark indigo blue field is covered in linked floral sprays. Each corner of the carpet has a 'quarter' medallion, replicating the central medallion. The Border is a repeat design in soft red and ivory on a dark charcoal ground. The carpet is a very accurate copy of the Ardabil carpet, now housed in the v & a museum, London. The Ardabil carpet is the oldest surviving dated carpet known, It was made in the town of Ardabil in north-west Iran, the burial place of Shaykh Safi al-Din Ardabili, who died in 1334. The Shaykh was a Sufi leader, ancestor of Shah Ismail, founder of the Safavid dynasty (1501-1722). While the exact origins of the carpet are unclear, it's believed to have been commissioned by the court for the shrine of the Shaykh, which, by the 16th century, had became a place of pilgrimage. The carpet can be dated exactly thanks to an inscription on one edge, which contains a poetic inscription, a signature - 'The work of the slave of the portal, Maqsud Kashani’, and the date, 946 in the Muslim calendar, equivalent to ad 1539 - 1540. It is considered by many that these carpets, (such as the one offered for sale here), were woven in the prisons of Agra, India; close to the Taj Mahal, during the latter part of the 19th century; to satisfy demand created by the ruling British elite. It is well documented that carpets from the Agra jail were commissioned by Queen Victoria, to furnish rooms at Windsor Castle. The Carpet is in excellent original condition with light wear and good pile, there is some corrosion to the charcoal blacks in the border as is expected with these carpets. The sides and ends are original, the ends retain some of the original kilim end finishes. This is a carpet of fine and tight weave, made with excellent soft wool and superb dye quality. The carpet is suitable for normal domestic use. The carpet has been hand washed and is ready for use or display. A rare opportunity to acquire a scarce carpet with historical significance. provenance: uk private collection, Sold: Christie's, London. Stock Number: jf-03.