The Artefact of the month in the Museum of Ethnograpy is a Persian Sofre which was made in the mid-19th century Iran

The text readable in the margin of the tablecloth identifies its maker as Haj Muhammad Husayn Baba Rabiʿ and its time of production as 1275 according to the Islamic calendar (corresponding to 1858–1859 C.E.). Though the circumstances of the purchase are known—the Academy of Oriental Commerce paid one hundred crowns for it in 1911—the precise identity of the seller is not. It was first deposited with the institution’s collection of sample merchandise, though presumably not in order to represent the contemporary market, as by that time, the more than fifty-year-old cloth was already rather worn.Its polychromatic motifs symbolise Earth’s lush flora. The central panel features a trio of mandorlas surrounded by a flower garden and, in each corner, a quarter-mandorla design. Around this, three of the borders are decorated with blue, wine-coloured, and mustard yellow flowers, paired with mir-i buta (paisley) motifs. Two others feature a repetitive devotional text in nasta‘liq calligraphy, ensuring that diners can read the prayer—thus making it an integral part of the table setting. Given its size (714 cm x 285 cm), the piece may be regarded as unique: though smaller cloths were sometimes manufactured serially, the placement of elements and distribution of colours in larger specimens meant that no two cloths were the same. The first four lines of the prayer, too, are unique to this cloth, while the final two have been taken from the poem Garden of Fragrance (The Bustan) by Saʿdi Shirazi (ca. 1210 – ca. 1292). These textual and ornamental elements did not, however, limit the use of the cloth to any specific occasion: it may have seen service on various holidays (weddings, New Year’s celebrations) or during a meal to express gratitude. 

The adventurous history of the carpet and a detailed description of the object can be found here.