‘Polonaise Carpet’, anonymous, c. 1600 - c. 1625

‘Polonaise Carpet’, anonymous, c. 1600 - c. 1625

silk, silver- and gold-wrapped thread, cotton, h 225.0cm × w 140.0cm More details

This kind of costly silk carpet with gold- and silverwrapped thread was woven in the imperial workshops in Isfahan, Iran. In 1602 King Sigismund III Vasa of Poland ordered several of them for his daughter’s wedding. This explains why they are called ‘Polonaise’ carpets. This may be one of the carpets made on commission for Sigismund.

On display in room 0.10