A Safavid silk and metal thread brocade panel, possibly by the weaver "Raisul", Iran, early 17th century, of rectangular form, decorated in polychrome silks, some wrapped in metal-thread, with a repeating design of large two-tiered trees in cobalt and pale blue, white and gold, on a gold ground, mounted, 102cm. x 72cm. For a similar textile see A.U. Pope, A Survey of Persian Art, Ashiya, 1964, Vol. XI, Textiles, pl. 1046. P. Ackerman in Pope., op cit, Vol, Vb, Textiles, p. 2129 attributes this brocade to the weaver Raisul, on the basis of a specimen of 'exactly the same type' then in a private collection in Tehran which bear's Raisul's name. The known examples of this type Ackerman asserts are of brocaded taffeta with patterns which are always large, a feature of a fragment sold at Sotheby's, Arts of the Islamic World, London 11 October 2006, Lot 140, in which the trees measured 23cm high and of our example in which the tress measure 26cm. high. Ackmerman notes that this style became so well known and associated with Raisul's name that a whole class of silks with large flowering trees became known as Rassuly. The panel stitched onto a cotton ground and on a stretcher, a central join in the centre where two pieces of the fabric and been joined, some pulling and holes where the silk threads have separated particularly to middle and lower row of trees, fraying to silk along the top, bottom and sides