Purchased from Durlacher Bros, 142 New Bond Street, London. "We are sending you tomorrow on approbation, by instructions received from Sir Samuel Montagu a Perso-Polonese Rug, which Mr Purdon Clarke saw at Sir Samuel's house. The rug cost us 60 guineas at Christie's, and we send it to you at 10% profit." The Museum's Director Caspar Purdon Clarke added: "This type of design is not represented in our collection, and as these carpets are rarely met with I consider it desirable to acquire one for the Museum." (7-11 March 1899, V&A Archives). Durlacher Bros had purchased this carpet from the estate of Alfred Morrison, and in the Christie's sale catalogue, it may be identified as lot 133: "A Silk Carpet, with crimson centre, pale blue border, with interlaced arabesque folirage in the centre in brilliant colours - from Herat, 16th century".