A lattice design (sometimes called a trellis pattern or diamond lattice) is a rug field composition in which the entire field is organized by interlocking diagonal lines forming a continuous grid of diamond or rhombus-shaped cells. Each cell typically contains a small motif — a flower, palmette, boteh, or geometric figure — repeated rhythmically across the entire field.
What distinguishes the lattice design:
- Geometric structure underlying the surface — the diagonal lattice provides organization, but the surface motifs may be floral or geometric
- No central focal element — like the Herati and Mina Khani patterns, the lattice is an "all-over" design without a dominant central medallion
- Visual rhythm and movement — the diagonal grid creates a sense of motion across the field that's distinct from the more static rectilinear medallion compositions
The lattice design appears in numerous regional traditions:
- Persian Tabriz — particularly in fine workshop pieces with detailed floral cells
- Persian Bakhtiari — sometimes used as an alternative to the kheshti (garden) panel grid
- Caucasian Daghestan prayer rugs — characteristically use lattice fields filled with small floral motifs inside the mihrab niche
- Indian Mughal carpets — the Millefleurs (literally "thousand flowers") Mughal designs often use a lattice structure to organize the dense floral content
- Turkish (Anatolian) workshop pieces from various periods
- Chinese rugs — variation appears in some Chinese export carpets
The lattice has a strong relationship to architectural geometric pattern — the same diagonal grid structure underlies many tile patterns in Islamic architecture, particularly in tilework from Iran, Andalusian Spain, and Mughal India. The cross-pollination between architectural ornament and textile pattern is one of the most consistent features of Islamic decorative art.
For interior designers, lattice-pattern rugs have particular appeal because the regular geometric structure tends to work well with modern furniture — the underlying order of the lattice complements clean architectural lines in ways that more elaborate medallion compositions sometimes don't.