Fine pure silk Hunting Scene (Shekargah) Persian Qum Zaronim, with an attractive and unusual brown background colour. P.R.J. Ford in his book Oriental Carpet Design states:

"Hunting rugs are often noticeably better in quality and colouring than other Qums - they represent, as it were,  a manufacturer's piece de resistance."

Since ancient times hunting scenes have been depicted in Persian art, and from the Safavid era (1501-1722) there has been a classical tradition of hunting scene rugs and carpets. This hunting scene probably depicts Shah Abbas (1587-1629) as the central figure in battle with a lion, whilst his men are hunting lesser creatures (such as deer). It is an image of a land of plenty; a paradise (of which the Shah is the dominant figure) with an abundance of life surrounded by a border of Mohammadi Roses, plants and song birds.

1.49x1.03m (4'11"x3'5") £4950

Lion symbols are a common motif in Persian art and culture and represent bravery and maniless. Parvis Tanavoli in his book Lion Rugs, The Lion in the Art & Culture of Iran notes:

"Another common scene in which the lion figures are prominent is that in which the Shah is the hunter and the lion is his prey . . . With the spread of Zoroastrianism a concerted effort was made to diminish the power and influence of Mithraism, and to further this goal the shahs had themselves depicted hunting the lion, the symbol of Mithra."