Chinese Keshan in pure silk | 95 x 62 cm | Nr. Z-2804

Floral Chinese Keshan in pure silk, rust red with border and medallion

Origin	China
Dimensions	95 cm x 62 cm (= 0.589 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: pure silk Weft & Warp: pure silk
knots per m²2	490.000
Pile height	4mm
Year of manufacture	1985
Colour	Rust red
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

The pattern of this rug is inspired by the patterns of classic Keshan rugs. This one, however, was knotted in China. The central Persian city of Keshan (also written Kashan or Keschan) lies between the slopes of the Zagros mountains and the Persian desert regions. Thanks to its climate and the caravans that travelled through 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 shaped by the elegance and splendour of that era. Keshan rugs are artful textiles made in an ancient tradition. In Keshan, production traditionally took place in the homes of the weavers themselves. The pile is typically knotted from exceptionally soft wool, which makes it particularly dense and compact.

Pattern

The edge of the rug is graced by a surround (border). The border forms a wonderful 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 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 background of this Keshan is cream white. The overall impression is also dominated by rust red. Dark blue and cream white are combined in the rust-red centre.

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this Keshan. It has had owners before you who valued and used it. It was hand-knotted around 1985. We have cleaned it thoroughly and lovingly restored it. Despite its age, it is therefore in very good condition.

Material

The silk in the pile of this Keshan makes the colours of the pattern glow in different shades, depending on how the light falls. It turns this Keshan into a real highlight and creates an atmosphere in the room that is cosy and at the same time very elegant and refined. Silk is obtained by hand from the cocoons of the silkworm. Because the individual silk filaments are extremely long, very fine yarns can be spun that are light in weight yet still tear-resistant. This fine yarn allows smaller knots to be tied and therefore finer patterns to be created. That is why the finest rugs in the world are hand-knotted from pure silk. With this Keshan, even the foundation is made of pure silk. The thin but hard-wearing material of the weft and warp threads allows a particularly fine knotting and, with it, a particularly fine pattern.