This Persian rug has a cotton foundation and a wool pile. It is an above average weave, with 225 knots per square inch.
 
Tabriz is one of the oldest carpet-making cities in Iran and is known for its diverse array of floral and geometric designs. Given its diversity it is impossible to single out one distinct Tabriz design, but what they all have in common is a masterful level of craftsmanship. Unlike their tribal counterparts, weavers in cities like Tabriz can spend months or even years on their rugs, allowing them to create a level of intricacy and detail that is truly spectacular.
 
The design of this rug is based on the original “Sheikh Safi” or “Ardabil” Carpets, a pair of famous rugs weaved in 16th Century Persia, one of which is on display in the V&A museum in London. It is thought that they were commissioned for the shrine of Sheikh Safi, (an early Safavid ruler), which had become a popular place of pilgrimage.