Discover the Hidden Treasures: 16th-Century Ardabil Carpets Displayed in London and Los Angeles

Two monumental 16th-century Ardabil carpets, crafted during the Safavid court era, have found their homes in distant lands, far from their origins in Iran. Currently housed in the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), these magnificent carpets tell a rich history of Iran’s artistic heritage. Originally created for the shrine of Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili, these carpets are not just decorative items; they are significant artifacts that represent Iran’s golden age of carpet weaving.

These exquisite carpets were commissioned in 1539–40 under the reign of Shah Tahmasp I. Each carpet features the identical signatures of the renowned artisan Maqsud of Kashan, who is believed to have designed and overseen their creation at a royal workshop, likely located in Tabriz. The carpets are adorned with a beautiful verse from the famous Persian poet Hafez, which reads: “I have no refuge in this world other than thy threshold / My head has no resting place other than this doorway.” This period marked a transformation in carpet weaving, elevating it to one of the most celebrated arts in Safavid Iran.

The Journey of the Ardabil Carpets

Originally a matched pair, these carpets were removed from the Ardabil shrine in the late 19th century due to damage from an earthquake. Since then, they have been sold abroad, with one residing in the Victoria and Albert Museum and the other in LACMA. While they are now celebrated masterpieces in Western museums, Iran currently displays only a contemporary reproduction in Ardabil.

• Victoria and Albert Museum Carpet: The larger and more famous carpet, housed in London, is recognized as “the world’s oldest dated carpet and one of the largest, most beautiful and historically important.”
• Design Features: This vibrant carpet showcases a unified design centered around a vast yellow medallion, flanked by two hanging lamps and intricately surrounded by scrollwork, all rendered in natural dyes.
• Knots and Texture: The carpet features a dense pile with approximately 5,300 knots per ten square centimeters, culminating in an estimated total of 26 million knots.

The Victoria and Albert Museum notes that the carpet was still present in the shrine when British visitors observed it in 1843. However, after the earthquake that damaged the shrine complex three decades later, it was sold to a Manchester firm and eventually listed on the market in 1892. The museum purchased it in 1893 for £2,000, following designer William Morris’s affirmation of its “singular perfection.”

During the late 19th century, the London carpet underwent significant restoration. Notably, sections from both original Ardabil carpets were utilized in this restoration process, which further altered the integrity of the pair. Today, this magnificent carpet is displayed in a custom-built case within the V&A’s Jameel Gallery, illuminated for limited intervals to preserve its vibrant colors.

LACMA’s Ardabil Carpet

The second surviving Ardabil carpet, located at LACMA, measures 718 by 400 centimeters and is described as “spectacular.” This carpet, woven with a wool pile on a silk foundation, shares the same date of 946 AH (1539–40) and the signature of Maqsud of Kashan, just like its counterpart in London.

• Royal Commission: The carpet was likely commissioned by Shah Tahmasp for the Safavid ancestral shrine at Ardabil.
• Design Similarities: LACMA’s carpet mirrors the medallion-and-lamp design of the London carpet, although it has undergone less restoration and retains closer ties to its original proportions.

Today, Iran showcases only a modern replica within the Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili Museum. While millions of art enthusiasts visit these iconic carpets in London and Los Angeles, they remain far from the shrine for which they were originally created nearly five centuries ago. This historical journey of the Ardabil carpets highlights the rich tapestry of Persian heritage and the ongoing appreciation of its artistic achievements on a global scale.