The Ardabil Carpet, is the world's oldest dated carpet and one of the largest, most beautiful and historically important in the world. In 2006, the V&A created a case in the centre of Room 42: The Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art, so that the carpet could be seen as intended, on the floor. To preserve its colours, it is lit for ten minutes on the hour and half-hour.
History of the Ardabil Carpet
The Ardabil Carpet was made as one of a matching pair in the late 1530s for the shrine at Ardabil. After an earthquake in the 1870s the carpets were sold. One was used to p…
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How the Ardabil Carpet Was Made
The Ardabil Carpet, like most textiles, consists of warps and wefts. it was made on a loom by knotting short lengths of wool around the warps to create a rows of pile.
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The Design of the Ardabil Carpet
The entire surface of the Ardabil carpet is covered by a single integrated design - an impressive feat in view of the great size of the carpet. The basic design is relative…
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Poems about the V&A: 'Handle with care' by Nii Parkes
In 2003 the poet Nii Ayikwei Parkes was commissioned to write a series of poems inspired by the V&A's collection. This poem was inspired by the Ardabil Carpet.
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Room 42: Islamic Art
The Jameel Gallery houses over 400 objects, including ceramics, textiles, carpets, metalwork, glass and woodwork, which date from the great days of the Islamic caliphate of…
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Oriental Carpets and their Structure: Highlights from the V&A Collection
A short introduction covers the history of carpets in the West, from the 16th-century when they became synonymous with wealth and fashionable living, …
Buy nowEvent - Pop-Up Performances
Sat 07 July 2012–Sat 28 December 2013
FAMILY EVENT: Enjoy the V&A collection with fun, interactive gallery performances for all the family, available on Saturdays.
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