This carpets on display belongs to a group known as “Polonaise.” Produced during the reign of Shah ‘Abbas I (r. 1587–1629), these carpets were not only enjoyed in Iran but also made for export to Europe, where they came to be mistakenly identified as Polish (Polonaise). The floral and saz-style ornament in this rug is typical of the period, but the large cross in the central medallion reveals that this Persian carpet was created for a European patron—in this case, the Royal House of Saxony
