Woven in the 1930s in the historic city of Qum, this early 20th-century Persian prayer rug is a stunning example of the region’s renowned silk weaving tradition. Hand-knotted from luminous silk in shades of dark cranberry, light and dark indigo, cream, and brown, the rug features a large weeping willow tree-of-life at its center, its delicate branches cascading with multicolored leaves—an enduring symbol of paradise and renewal. The mihrab-shaped field is framed by an extraordinary border that mirrors the arch of a mosque, composed of petite, finely rendered floral patterns across multiple stripes. Qum rugs are prized for their intricate detail, fine knotting, and exceptional materials, often woven by master artisans—many of them women—in and around the holy city of Qum, south of Tehran. Revered for their elegance and precision, silk Qum rugs are less about utility and more about devotion—both spiritual and artistic. This one is no exception.
