Description:

 


 

Lot 131: A SILK TEXTILE WITH BIRDS AROUND A CENTRAL MEDALLION, SAFAVID PERSIA, 17TH CENTURY
Safavid Persia, 17th century
Dimensions: 105 x 65 cm
Provenance: Dr Bahari Collection, acquired prior to 1979

Description:
A striking Safavid silk and metal-thread textile panel, woven in shades of turquoise, ivory, soft green, indigo, and gilt thread on a brilliant blue ground. The composition is centered on an almond-shaped medallion containing a stylized floral rosette, flanked by mirrored vegetal forms. Surrounding the medallion are a symmetrical array of naturalistic motifs, including peacocks, birds, deer, cypresses, flowering plants, and cloud bands—symbolic imagery frequently found in Persian royal aesthetics.

The overall layout mirrors the format of chahar bagh garden design, emphasizing symmetry and cosmic order. The textile is framed with a floral border of alternating rosettes and vines in metallic thread, emphasizing its refined craftsmanship and courtly association. This panel was likely intended as a furnishing textile, possibly for a throne backdrop, a ceremonial tent interior, or a royal gift.

Comparable examples:

  • A silk and metal-thread textile with medallion and bird motifs, Safavid Persia, 17th century, sold at Sotheby’s, London, Arts of the Islamic World, 25 October 2017, Lot 161, for £68,750.

  • A similar silk textile panel with peacocks and floral motifs, attributed to Isfahan, c. 1650, sold at Christie’s, London, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 27 April 2023, Lot 108, for £75,600.

  • A Safavid silk and gold brocade with animal and tree-of-life motifs, 17th century, sold at Bonhams, London, Islamic and Indian Art, 28 October 2020, Lot 94, for £52,562.

Note:
This textile encapsulates the height of Safavid luxury weaving, blending naturalistic symbolism with technical mastery. Textiles of this type were not only functional but deeply embedded in Persian court culture, used for diplomatic gifting, royal ceremonies, and architectural ornamentation. The elegant execution and enduring palette affirm its origin from a high-level atelier, most likely in Isfahan, the Safavid capital and a major textile production center of the era.

 

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
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