{"product_id":"1074-relic-antique-persian-malayer-rug-circa-1900-2-0-2-4","title":"1074 | RELIC Antique Persian Malayer Rug | Circa 1900 | 1.11 × 2.10","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THIS RUG\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThere are vintage rugs. And then there are survivors.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeet \u003cstrong\u003eRelic\u003c\/strong\u003e—a diminutive antique Persian rug attributed to the Malayer weaving region of Western Persia, with more than a century of history written directly into its surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original composition emerges almost like a painting beneath the patina: a beautifully muted madder-red field filled with oversized palmettes, rosettes, angular leaves and wandering floral forms in midnight indigo, tobacco brown, old ivory, faded olive and dusty rose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the center sits a wonderfully graphic floral rosette.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOr what's left of one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause the remarkable thing about Relic is the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGenerations of use have worn large portions of the original pile completely down to the foundation, creating extraordinary variations in texture, color and pattern. Dense areas of wool collide with ghostlike fragments of the original drawing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome motifs remain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOthers have nearly disappeared.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTime finished the design.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Western Persia (Iran), attributed to the Malayer \/ greater Hamadan weaving region\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge:\u003c\/strong\u003e Antique, likely circa 1900\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConstruction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-knotted wool\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1'11\" × 2'10\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eColors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Aged madder red, midnight indigo, tobacco brown, old ivory, faded olive \u0026amp; dusty rose\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDesign:\u003c\/strong\u003e All-over geometric floral composition with oversized palmettes, central rosette and multiple narrow borders\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWHY WE LOVE IT\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRelic has something you cannot order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne hundred-plus years of actual wear.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLook at the center.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pile hasn't been chemically faded, shaved down, stonewashed, printed or attacked by someone at a factory with a distressing tool.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeople did that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne footstep at a time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is almost abstract. The exposed foundation creates pale passages through the original red field while fragments of flowers and palmettes appear and disappear across the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd around the perimeter, enough of the original pile survives to show you what this rug once was.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat's what makes it so good.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou're seeing two rugs simultaneously:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ethe one that left the loom and the one that survived.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCONDITION\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRelic is a \u003cstrong\u003eheavily worn antique textile\u003c\/strong\u003e, and its condition is an essential part of its character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is extensive pile loss throughout, with significant areas worn to the foundation. There are also losses and irregularities along the ends and edges, fringe loss, exposed foundation, and evidence of repairs and\/or stabilization accumulated during the rug's long life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis should not be purchased by someone looking for a pristine antique rug.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt should be purchased by someone looking for an \u003cstrong\u003eextraordinary antique object.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite the extensive wear, the surviving wool retains beautiful muted color and enough of the original drawing remains to make the composition remarkably compelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully, as they are considered part of the condition description.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSTYLING NOTES\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt only \u003cstrong\u003e2'0\" × 2'4\"\u003c\/strong\u003e, Relic doesn't need to behave like a conventional rug.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTreat it like an artifact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLayer it over a larger rug.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlace it beside a bed or beneath a small table.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse it somewhere with limited foot traffic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOr—and this may be our favorite—\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eput it on the wall.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgainst plaster, stone, concrete or an otherwise minimal interior, the fragmented pattern and exposed foundation start reading less like an old floor covering and more like abstract textile art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhich, at this point, is basically what it is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFINAL WORD\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect condition would make this a different rug.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe don't want the different rug.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe want the faded reds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe disappearing flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe exposed foundation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe little fragments of wool that somehow survived more than a century while everything around them wore away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e#1074 — Relic.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou don't restore 100 years of history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYou frame it.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rug Snob","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50172509094136,"sku":null,"price":796.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0712\/5978\/3416\/files\/1074.1.jpg?v=1786913428","url":"https:\/\/www.rugsnob.com\/products\/1074-relic-antique-persian-malayer-rug-circa-1900-2-0-2-4","provider":"RUGSNOB","version":"1.0","type":"link"}