Last update. I am now pretty certain that these are actually crocheted and not knit - perhaps with the method of Tajik or Shepherds Knitting. A good description of this can be found on Ixtab’s pattern page with her Tajik protosock. Doesn’t she make exquisitely beautiful things? And all with her own handspun. She is an amazing fibre artist!

update: I have given up trying to chart these as no matter how I count, I am coming up with over 300 stitches! They must have made these with fine silk thread? In any case, I am not that motivated! If anyone does feel like charting and simplifying them, please share with the rest of us. They are so very lovely. (newer update, above.)

A non-knitting friend sent me this picture of some antique socks and I am going to try to chart them and make a pair as similar as I can. This will be a long project.
I am pretty certain from reading about old costumes of the time, that they were probably made for a man (perhaps a pair of wedding socks) and meant to go over padding on the legs. To get a pair of modern wearable socks, one would have to cut out half of the stitches which will drastically affect the pattern. I am not sure whether to heavily modify them so that they can be worn or to just try to copy them exactly for the experience and fun of it. I should go for the second but think that I will go for the first as I would like to wear them rather than just having something else cluttering up the house. I am all for beautiful but useful.
These are actually two different pair both quite similar. Both Persian Socks from Kurdistan Qajar Dynasty 1795 -1925 A.D. It is the first pair in yellow that I want to duplicate.