Isfahan | 236 x 152 cm | Nr. Z-2819

Floral Isfahan, dark blue with border and medallion

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	236 cm x 152 cm (= 3.5872 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: kurk wool Weft: cotton Warp: pure silk
knots per m²2	640.000
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1975
Colour	Dark blue, dark red
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 are especially sought after. The late master knotter Haj Agha Reza Seirafian lived from 1881 to 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 templates and designs of Haj Agha Reza Seirafian.

Pattern

The ornate border forms a wonderful contrast with the centre and shapes the transition at the edge of the rug.

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

At the heart of this Isfahan's central field sits the symmetrical centrepiece, also known as the medallion. The design of the field is subordinate to the medallion, giving the impression that the medallion is floating on the field.

The background of this Isfahan is dark blue. The border is worked in dark red, cream white and dark blue. The dark red centre combines dark blue and cream white.

Condition

This Isfahan has had admirers before you. It was hand-knotted around 1975. We have cleaned it thoroughly and restored it with care. Despite its age, it is therefore in very good condition.

Material

The pile of this Isfahan was knotted from what is known as kork wool. Kork (or kurk) wool is a particularly fine-threaded knotting yarn that feels almost velvety. It is taken from the neck, the belly and the inner sides of the sheep's legs and is of exceptionally high quality. The weft threads of this Isfahan are cotton. Pure silk was used for the warp threads.