Isfahan Seirafian | 303 x 210 cm | Nr. 20712

Isfahan Seirafian, dark red with signature, medallion and border

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	303 cm x 210 cm (= 6.36 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: kork wool with pure silk Weft: cotton Warp: pure silk
knots per m²2	720.000
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1950
Colour	Dark Red, Cream White
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

 

Origin

The city of Isfahan is one of the architectural jewels of the Islamic world. Isfahan owes its artistic tradition, its historic townscape and its arguably unique architecture to the Safavid dynasty and to Shah Abbas in particular. Floral motifs are typical of the patterns of Isfahan rugs. Designs with fourfold or lengthwise symmetry are widespread, with a medallion in the centre surrounded by arabesques, blossoms or birds. The ground colour is usually a classic red, and a luminous blue and a light beige are typical as well. With more than 15 shades in most cases, though, the Isfahan is decidedly colourful. The borders are often green-blue and decorated with flowering vines and palmettes.

In Iran, the fineness of Isfahan knotting is stated in cheft. Cheft are fine, usually blue vertical lines along the lower end webs. The closer the lines, the finer the knotting.

To this day, many Isfahan rugs carry a discreetly knotted inscription in Persian script along the lower edge, the so-called signature. It names the maker, the provenance Isfahan and often the country as well, either as the word Iran or as the Iranian national flag in green, white and red.

Rugs from the Seirafian workshop – like this Isfahan – are especially sought after. The late master knotter Haj Agha Reza Seirafian lived between 1881 and 1975. Today he is known as the creator of the famous Seirafian rugs. Before he turned to rug production, Haj Agha Reza was a private banker in Isfahan. The Seirafian family still makes rugs today from the patterns and designs of Haj Agha Reza Seirafian.

 

Pattern

At the heart of the central field of this Isfahan Seirafian lies the symmetrical centre, 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 edge of the rug is framed by a decorative border. The border forms a beautiful contrast with the centre.

The lavish floral motifs of this Isfahan Seirafian are elegant and full of variety. The graceful plant symbols, depicting blossoms, leaves and branches, are artfully intertwined.

A particular highlight of this Isfahan Seirafian is its signature. The signature documents that it was made in one of the most renowned knotting workshops in Isfahan Seirafian. The signature in Arabic script speaks of the individuality and the noble origin of this rug.

The overall impression is dominated by dark red and cream white. The border is worked in dark red and blue-grey. In the dark red centre, blue-grey and dark blue are combined.

 

Condition

This Isfahan Seirafian has had admirers before you. It was hand-knotted around 1950. We have cleaned it thoroughly and lovingly restored it. Despite its age, it is therefore in very good condition.

 

Material

The pile of this Isfahan Seirafian was hand-knotted from cork wool and silk. Cork wool, also known as kurk wool, is a particularly fine-threaded knotting yarn that feels almost velvety. Cork wool is taken from the neck, the belly and the inner sides of the sheep's legs and is of especially high quality. The pattern of this Isfahan Seirafian is picked out in lustrous pure silk, which is obtained by hand from the cocoons of the silkworm. The silk elements create a shimmering contrast and let the colours glow in different facets, depending on how the light falls. The weft threads of this Isfahan Seirafian are made of cotton. Pure silk was used for the warp threads.