Oriental carpets have always been prized in the West as items of luxury; they are also objects of great beauty, and an understanding of their structure is invaluable to appreciate them properly. In showcasing 100 superb examples from the V&A, this volume opens the door on one of the richest and least known areas of the collections. A short introduction covers the history of carpets in the West, from the 16th century when they became synonymous with wealth and fashionable living, and were often included in the portraits of the day. In the nineteenth century they were reappraised as examples of good design, and seen as a source of inspiration for the creative industries. William Morris himself was instrumental in the purchase for the V&A in 1893 of the famous Ardabil Carpet, hailed in The Times as 'the finest Persian carpet in the world '. It is only when we have an understanding of how carpets are woven that we can explore the real nature of their design- how patterns evolve and straddle boundaries of time and place. An illustrated chapter on weaving methods is supplemented by detailed structural analyses of each carpet- the result is a volume that illuminates the subject and will be of great value to collectors, designers and textile historians alike.