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The “Garden” carpet, originating from northwest Persia in the early 16th century, is the earliest known example of the garden design. Likely crafted in Heriz, it features a vibrant layout of canals with fish, ducks, medallions adorned with birds, deer, and blossoms, all framed by a floral border. Woven with wool, cotton, and silk, it boasts intricate craftsmanship with 307,200 knots per square meter. This historic masterpiece, once part of the Figdor Collection, now resides in the Österreichisches Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna.

Many Persian rugs feature inscriptions within a cartouche, often revealing the name of the commissioner, the artist, or the factory and year of creation. These inscriptions typically use the Hegira calendar rather than the Iranian calendar. To convert a Hegira date to the Christian era, subtract 3% of the inscribed date and add 622. The Hegira calendar begins with the Prophet Mohammed’s migration from Mecca, marking the start of the Islamic calendar.