Old Keshan | 200 x 134 cm | Nr. 15294

Floral old Keshan, light red with border and medallion

Origin

The central Persian city of Keshan (also Kashan or Keschan) lies between the slopes of the Zagros Mountains and the Persian desert regions. Thanks to its climate and the caravans that crossed the country, it was – at least until the Safavids moved their seat of government to Isfahan – a flourishing metropolis, known above all for its fabric and rug production. To this day it is marked by the elegance and splendour of that era. Keshan rugs are artful textiles made in an age-old tradition. Production in Keshan traditionally took place in the weavers' own homes. The pile is typically knotted from extremely soft wool, which makes it particularly dense and compact. This old Keshan is around 85 years old and a real collector's piece.

Pattern

The lush floral motifs of this Keshan are elegant and full of variety. The graceful plant forms, showing blossoms, leaves and branches, are artfully intertwined.

The edge of the rug is framed by a surround (border). The border forms a splendid contrast to the centre.

At the heart of this Keshan's central field sits the symmetrical centrepiece, also known as the medallion. The design of the field is subordinate to the medallion, so that the medallion seems to float on the field.

The background of this Keshan is light red. The border is worked in dark blue and olive green. In the dark-blue centre, dusky pink and beige are combined.

Condition

This Keshan has had admirers before you. It was hand-knotted around 1935. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good, though only partly restored, condition. We have not restored this Keshan completely, because we feel it has a special charm just as it is. If that is what you would like, we will of course carry on restoring the rug for you. We can bring almost any rug back to near-perfect condition.

Material

The pile of this Keshan was hand-knotted from high-quality new wool. New wool is obtained by gently shearing sheep. It is a renewable, natural raw material with a range of impressive qualities: thanks to the wool's natural lanolin content, the surface repels droplets of water and is naturally proofed against dirt. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, helps regulate the indoor climate and dampens sound. The weft and warp threads of this Keshan are cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and elastic, which makes it ideal for a hard-wearing foundation weave.