16th Century Coronation Carpet

From: Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Limited Edition: 25
Exhibition: A Tale of Two Persian Carpets: The Ardabil and Coronation Carpets.
Material: Printed vinyl
Dimensions: 35" x 96" (88cm x 243cm)

Hanging Hardware Included

Summary

The spectacular close up of the 16th century Coronation Carpet's center medallion, winged friends and four-legged creatures brings a rich Paradise Garden indoors. The Coronation Carpet was named for its placement at the King's throne during the coronation of Britain's Edward VII, son of Queen Victoria, in 1902. Rarely ever shown due to its large size and sensitivity to light, the carpet was woven circa 1520-1530 in Saravid, Iran. Unlike the original carpet, these 25 banners from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art are ready for ongoing presentation in your home.

Description

The Coronation Carpet was laid out in all its glory before the throne for the coronation of Britain’s Edward VII, son of Queen Victoria, in 1902. Most likely chosen for its large size, measuring 23 by 12 feet, the Coronation Carpet is featured prominently in Edwin Austin Abbey’s painting of the event for which it is named at Westminster Abbey. It has a knotted pile in wool on a cotton foundation with a central medallion and smaller pendant medallions. Sometimes called a paradise garden carpet, the Coronation Carpet depicts a springtime scene with dragons, phoenixes, qilins (a creature from Chinese mythology) and other animals frolicking among twin cypress and flowering trees. The smaller blue medallions are suggestive of flowing water. The carpet’s design is repeated in mirror image so that it can be viewed similarly from different vantage points.

At the time of the Coronation, the carpet was thought to be owned by American collector and millionaire, Marsden Perry. It changed hands among other wealthy Americans until J. Paul Getty donated it to LACMA in 1949. Like the better known Ardabil Carpet of the same exhibit, the Coronation Carpet most likely has a twin, which exists only as a small fragment in the Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin.

The front of the banner features a spectacular close up of the carpet’s center medallion, winged friends and four-legged creatures. The opposite side is dark red with the exhibit name, date and LACMA reversed out in white lettering. The printer of the banner is printed above the hem line in small letters (Amgraph 818-301-5353).

Provenance

These banners were displayed around Los Angeles from November 14, 2009 to January 18, 2010 to promote the exhibition A Tale of Two Persian Carpets: The Ardabil and Coronation Carpets.