Accession Number

ID8813

Description

A fine woolen circa 1920 Benlian Tabriz carpet, 20' X 12'7" featuring trees, angels and animals, the weave 156 knots per square inch.

Narrative

This carpet was made in northwestern Iran in about 1920 by the families Mamoud and Jabazedeh. It was commissioned by a London-based Armenian carpet dealer named Edward Benlian. Various carpet experts have said that the design of this carpet is loosely based on the famous "Tree of Life" carpet held at the Museo Poldi-Pezzoli in Milan, Italy. That carpet measures 692 cm X 360 cm and is believed to have been made for "Darius of the World", who was probably Shah Tahmasp I (1534-1576). Detailed information in about that particular carpet can be found in the book, Iranian Carpets: Art, Craft, and History by E. Gans-Ruedin (London: Thames & Hudson, 1978), page 68. A coloured photograph of it can be seen here: https://mirzacarpet.blog.ir/post/283 (last accessed July 7, 2022)

The poem around the perimeter of the field of the carpet is believed to be excerpts from a poem by Omar Khayyam (1048-1131), a Persian mathematician, astronomer, poet and philosopher. An English translation of the Farsi text is shown below. 

This carpet is not part of The Castle Society's Primary Museum Collection because it is too new to have been used by the Dunsmuirs at Craigdarroch. Mrs. Dunsmuir died in 1908 and the family sold the Castle a year later. The carpet was made in about 1920. Because it is not in the museum's Collection, visitors are permitted to walk on it. 

History of Use

Sold as new to an unknown entity in London, England circa 1920. Re-sold by a London dealer in 1977 and brought to Victoria, B.C. and kept by that buyer's family until gifted to Craigdarroch Castle in 2010.

Date

circa 1920

Dimensions

609 x 385 cm
20' X 12'7"

Material

Fabric, wool

Brand Name

Benlian

Technique

Knotted

School/Style

Tabriz

Inscription

[English translation of the original Farsi]
This carpet is... the wild rose;
it is the eyelids of the houris of Paradise.

The design of its border has made apparent
canals of water flowing to every corner.

O Lord, this fresh rose without thorns
which came forth from the garden of labour...

O Humay, raise your hand in prayer,
for the end of the work is concluded by that.

O Lord, this fresh rose without thorns
which came forth from the garden of labour...

Oh Happy the carpet that at the feast of satisfaction
fell like the shadow at the foot of the king,

Placed its face, like the sun, to the road,
made its white hairs a carpet for his tread.

 

Country of Origin

Iran; United Kingdom