Antique Lilian | 150 x 83 cm | Nr. 19597

Floral antique Lilian, light red with an all-over pattern, central medallion and border

Origin

Lilian rugs come – like Hamadan rugs – from north-west Iran. Unlike the weavers of Hamadan rugs, though, the makers of Lilian rugs are of Armenian descent. In Iran they are therefore also called Armenibaft Lilian. Lilian rugs made over the past few decades are for the most part knotted fairly coarsely. The pile wool, which is usually good and is knotted into a cotton foundation (cotton weft & warp), nevertheless makes Lilians very good, hard-wearing rugs.

The most striking feature of Lilian rugs is the frequently used cross-shaped floral medallion, surrounded by large flower and leaf vines in a four-fold symmetrical field layout. The colouring is usually a strong red with details worked out in dark blue. More rarely, Lilian rugs can also be found with a large-scale all-over Herati motif. This antique Lilian is a collector's piece. It is around 90 years old and a truly special piece for that reason alone. Antique rugs such as this Lilian remain as sought after as ever and achieve top prices at renowned auction houses.

Pattern

The lush floral motifs of this Lilian are elegant and full of variety. The graceful plant symbols, depicting blossoms, leaves and branches, are artfully intertwined.

The decorated surround (border) forms a wonderful contrast to the centre and shapes the transition at the edge of the rug.

The recurring pattern (known as a repeat pattern) flatters the design of the room and does not draw attention away from the furniture, the decoration and the architectural elements. It fits wonderfully into any setting and subtly complements the furnishings of a room. In this Lilian, the repeating elements find their centre in the middle of the field, in the symmetrical medallion.

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

Condition

This Lilian has a history. It was hand-knotted around 1930. We have cleaned it thoroughly and lovingly restored it. Despite its age, it is therefore in very good condition.

Material

The pile of this Lilian was hand-knotted from high-quality new wool. New wool is obtained by gently shearing sheep. New wool is a renewable, natural raw material with a whole range of impressive qualities: thanks to the natural lanolin content of the wool, the surface repels droplets of water and is therefore naturally protected 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 well suited to a hard-wearing foundation weave.