Isfahan Persian Rug 309 × 405 cm, Wool, hand-knotted

Overview

An Isfahan Persian rug from Iran, measuring 309 × 405 cm. It covers approximately 12.51 m², or 10.1′ × 13.3′. 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: wool, silk warp. 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 silk warp forms the carrying structure and sets how finely the rug can be knotted.

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. 400×300cm.

On the knot count

The stated knot density is 400,000–499,999 knots/m². A middle count: the pattern reads clearly while the rug keeps a robust, everyday handle.

Period

Stated age: 50 years or more. An old rug shows an evened, slightly lowered pile and the patina that only use produces; that is a mark of age, not of damage. 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.