Keshan | 213 x 130 cm | Nr. 20107

Floral Keshan, dark red with border and medallion

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	213 cm x 130 cm (= 2.77 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	420.000
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1980
Colour	Dark red, dark blue
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

The central Persian city of Keshan (also written Kashan or Keschan) lies between the slopes of the Zagros mountains and the Persian deserts. 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 production of fabrics and rugs. To this day the city is shaped by the elegance and splendour of that era. Keshan rugs are artful textiles made in an age-old tradition. In Keshan, production traditionally took place in the weavers' own homes. The pile is typically knotted from exceptionally soft wool, which makes it particularly dense and compact.

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

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 dark blue. The overall impression is also dominated by the colours dark red and dark blue. The border is kept in dark red.

Condition

This Keshan has a history. It was hand-knotted around 1980. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good but unrestored condition. The edges and fringes could do with a repair in places. We have not restored this Keshan because we feel it has a special charm just as it is. If that is what you would like, we will of course gladly restore the rug for you. Either way, this Keshan will give you pleasure for decades to come.

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.