Old Lilian | 120 x 91 cm | Nr. Z-2398

Floral old Lilian, dark red with border and medallion

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	120 cm x 91 cm (= 1.09 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	240.000
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1950
Colour	Dark red, dark blue
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

Lilian rugs come – like Hamadan rugs – from north-western Iran. Unlike the Hamadan rugs, however, the weavers of Lilian rugs are of Armenian descent, which is why in Iran they are also called Armenibaft Lilian. Lilian rugs made in recent decades are for the most part fairly coarsely knotted. The pile wool is usually good, and it is knotted into a cotton foundation (cotton weft & warp), which still makes Lilians very good and hard-wearing rugs.

The most striking feature of Lilian rugs is the frequently used cross-shaped floral medallion, surrounded by large flowering and leafy tendrils in a four-fold symmetrical field layout. The colouring is usually a strong red with details picked out in dark blue. Less often you will also come across Lilian rugs with a large-scale, all-over Herati motif. This old Lilian is around 70 years old and a true collector's piece.

Pattern

The edge of the rug is graced by a surround (border) . The border forms an excellent contrast with the centre.

At the heart of this Lilian's central field lies the symmetrical centre, which is also medallion . The design of the field is subordinate to the medallion, so that the medallion appears to float on the field.

The lavish floral motifs of this Lilian are elegant and varied in their design. The graceful plant symbols, depicting blossoms, leaves and branches, are artfully intertwined.

The background of this Lilian is dark red. The border is worked in dark blue and light brown. In the dark blue centre, light brown and dark red are combined.

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this Lilian. It has had owners before you who valued and used it. It was knotted around 1950 by hand. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good but unrestored condition. The pile is worn in places. The edges are damaged in parts. The fringes could do with a repair. Parts of the border are missing on both sides. We have not restored this Lilian because we feel that it has a special presence just as it is. If that is what you would like, we will of course be happy to restore the rug for you. Either way, this Lilian will bring you pleasure for decades to come.

Material

The pile of this Lilian was knotted from high-quality new wool . New wool is obtained by shearing sheep gently. New wool is a renewable, natural raw material with a range of impressive qualities: thanks to the natural fat content of the wool, the surface repels droplets of water and is therefore naturally proofed against dirt. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, helps regulate the indoor climate and dampens sound. The weft and warp threads of this Lilian are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and stretchy, which makes it especially suited to a hard-wearing foundation.