In Persian, Delsetan means captivating, enchanting or heart-stealing; the name was chosen for the allure of the butterfly motif and its delicate appearance in silk, whose distinctive reflection of light sets it apart from the woollen versions named Delroba. The Delsetan Carpet, with its green ground and symmetrical arrangement of blossoms and arabesque branches, draws upon motifs from the Safavid school. Dark, curving lines at the centre of the carpet reveal the form of a butterfly with open wings, while soft colours and the silk weave lend delicacy to the design.
| Dimensions | 154 × 116 cm |
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In the design of the Delsetan Carpet, the scrolling arabesque branches are arranged against a green ground in such a way that a butterfly form emerges among the vegetal ornaments. Dark lines define the principal structure of the wings, while small blossoms in shades of red, blue and cream appear within and around the motif. The symmetrical order of the design and its floral border are characteristic features of this reinterpretation of motifs from the Safavid school.
Five other versions of this design also exist: three silk Delsetan carpets, comprising one green, one navy and one red version, and two woollen Delroba carpets in blue and red. These two names were chosen for their closely related meanings, as wool and silk, through their different textures and ways of reflecting light, each lend a distinctive character to the butterfly motif and captivate the viewer in their own way. This carpet originates from Heriz and measures 154 × 116 cm.
