An Ardabil Carpet enters the South Kensington Museum collection

Background. The Ardabil Carpet refers to two famous Persian carpets. The larger one, now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, was originally part of a pair. The London carpet was restored in the 19th century using sections from both original carpets. The other carpet, now in Los Angeles, was made from the remaining sections.

Acquisition. In March 1893, William Morris, in his capacity as one of the V&A's Art Referees, persuaded the museum to raise, with the aid of public subscription, the then vast sum of £2000 to purchase the carpet. The passage records this fundraising and purchase decision rather than a confirmed date on which the carpet physically entered the collection.

Provenance. The carpets were traditionally believed to have been placed in the Sheikh Safi al-Din Shrine in Ardabil. They became heavily worn and were sold in 1890 to a British carpet dealer. The dealer restored one carpet using the other before reselling the restored version to the museum.