Moffitts Antiques
Antique Oriental Hand Knotted Boteh Mir Wool Rug Red Indigo NTC Label 212x135cm
Antique Oriental Hand Knotted Boteh Mir Wool Rug Red Indigo NTC Label 212x135cm
Couldn't load pickup availability
An antique Oriental hand-knotted rug in the much-loved boteh-mir design — the all-over repeating boteh (paisley) field associated with the village weaving traditions of the wider Near East. The boteh motifs are arranged in offset rows over a deep madder-red field, framed by a series of complementary indigo and ivory borders.
The rug measures approximately 212 cm x 135 cm (roughly 6'11" x 4'5"), a generous small-room size. It is hand-knotted in wool on a cotton foundation in the classic single-weft village structure. Crucially, the rug carries a genuine NTC Carpets retailer label to the reverse, providing documented commercial provenance — a feature increasingly sought after by collectors as proof of period import to the West.
The boteh-mir pattern is one of the oldest continuously woven Oriental designs, with documented examples dating to the late 18th century. It remained a staple of village output through the 19th and early 20th centuries. The motif itself — variously interpreted as a cypress tree, a flame, or a stylised pinecone — is the same form that gave rise to the Western 'paisley' pattern, brought back to Britain by traders and reproduced in the famous Scottish shawl industry.
Condition: overall good antique condition with honest age-related wear. There is a small localised area of moth damage and some general worn areas across the field — please examine every image carefully. The foundation is sound, the structure stable, and the rug presents very well on the floor. Sold as a genuine antique decorative piece, not as a perfect example.
The combination of classic design, documented retailer provenance, and accessible price makes this an excellent opportunity for collectors building a thematic Oriental rug collection or for decorators seeking a piece with real history.
Carefully rolled and dispatched via a tracked, signed-for courier service. UK buyers welcome to collect from Nottingham by arrangement. International buyers please message for a shipping quote.
