Ardabil 13x17

Persian Ardabil (or Ardebil), not to be mistaken with the beautiful antique Ardabil on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum, are named for the city near the coast of the Caspian sea. Ardabil rugs often display the Herati (or Mahi) motif, with a diamond-shaped medallion at the center and more small fish sprinkled throughout the design. Silk is often incorporated into the woolen pile which offers a luster and highlights specific parts of the designs. Modern-day Ardabil rugs have incorporated bolder geometric symmetrical patterns rather than the display of the traditional Mahi.

This particular Arbadil incorporates the Herati motif repeated throughout the rug, with far less ornate floral detail than often displayed in a Herati motif, and sprinkled with small birds. The neutral color palette of this particular rug merges both the nod toward minimalism in contemporary decor but upholds the beauty of the traditional artisanship making this rug as pleasing to any collector as those who stepped upon the sprawling palatial Arbadil displayed in museums.