A Tabriz masterpiece, No. 6672 – 288 × 182cm

6672 – 288 × 182 cm
Wool and silk on a silk foundation | Circa 1980s

The mythical Tree of All Seeds—also known as the Tree of Life—has long fascinated carpet designers. It is one of the most enduring and beloved motifs in traditional weaving, sometimes rendered in abstract, stylised forms, and at other times in intricate, naturalistic detail.

Having seen countless examples over the past four decades, I can say with confidence that this one stands among the finest. Composed of over seven million knots, it is woven with an extraordinary level of care and precision that few pieces ever achieve. The materials used are of the highest grade, and the colour composition is rich, layered, and completely outside the realm of the ordinary.

It takes years to produce a piece of this scale and complexity. This particular rug was made in the early 1980s and is one of the earliest works by the master weaver Azim Zadeh, created in the early days of his journey—when the ambition was strong, and every knot carried the weight of hope and craftsmanship.