Isfahan Oriental Rug 284 × 367 cm, Wool, hand-knotted

Overview

An Isfahan Oriental rug from China, measuring 284 × 367 cm. It covers approximately 10.42 m², or 9.3′ × 12.0′. Isfahan has been a centre of Persian court weaving since the Safavid period; its rugs are finely knotted and frequently set on a silk warp.

Materials and construction

Stated material: cotton warp, wool. The rug was knotted entirely by hand on the loom, which is why the surface is not mechanically even but carries the small irregularities that mark hand work. New wool gives a resilient pile that recovers from footfall and takes dye deeply. The cotton warp holds the rug flat and keeps it dimensionally stable.

Size and placement

The rug is rectangular. At this size the rug sets the room rather than accenting it, and wants furniture standing on it. In our size filter it is listed under approx. 350×300cm.

On the knot count

The stated knot density is 600,000–699,999 knots/m². This is a fine count. Curved lines stay smooth and small motifs remain legible at arm’s length.

Period

Stated age: contemporary. The pile is still full and largely unwalked. The dominant colour range is red and orange. The piece is a one-off: in this combination of size, material, knot count and drawing it exists exactly once, and it cannot be reordered once sold.