Persian Rug Kashan 440 x 310 cm Wool Hand-knotted

Keshan Persian Rug

Material and Craftsmanship

This original Persian rug from Keshan is hand-knotted. Its pile is made of new wool, while cotton is specified for the warp. These two materials serve different parts of the construction: wool forms the visible and usable surface, whereas cotton belongs to the supporting foundation. The combination of a wool pile with a cotton warp is found in many Persian rugs and brings together a resilient fibre surface and a stable textile framework.

In hand-knotting, each knot is inserted individually around the prepared warp threads. A weft is then passed through the row and compacted before the next row is made. The process continues across the entire field, so the finished textile reflects a sequence of manual operations rather than a pattern applied to a completed surface. New wool is suitable for knotting, accepts colour, and can be trimmed into an even pile.

The cotton warp provides the structure to which the pile and weft are secured. Its regular textile character helps organise the rows and gives the rug a firm basis. In a hand-knotted rug, knot, weft, and warp work together as one construction. The visible pile is therefore part of the fabric itself and not a separate printed or attached decoration.

The condition is described as age-related, with the photographs referred to for inspection. This is the condition statement for the individual rug and does not replace a visual review. Age-related characteristics, changes to the surface, or other visible features are best considered directly from the images rather than supplemented with assumptions that are not included in the description.

Origin and Tradition

The rug comes from Persia and is associated with the Keshan tradition. Keshan, also known as Kashan, is one of the established carpet centres of the Iranian cultural region. The city lies in central Iran and developed within historic routes linking areas of trade, settlement, and craftsmanship. Over time, a recognisable local carpet tradition formed there, combining ordered compositions with the skills of hand production.

Keshan rugs are often associated with balanced layouts, a central field, and a surrounding border system. A medallion may be used as the focus, while floral or scrolling elements fill the surrounding space. These are general features found in the Keshan design vocabulary, not a precise description of every rug from the region. No specific motif is named for this individual piece, so no particular medallion, all-over arrangement, or floral scheme is assigned to it here.

The Keshan tradition grew in a setting where rugs were made both for domestic interiors and for wider trade. Workshops and individual weavers carried forward ideas about proportion, border hierarchy, and colour balance. At the same time, the actual appearance of each rug could vary with the workshop, the period, the chosen drawing, and the person doing the knotting. Regional tradition therefore provides a framework, while hand production leaves room for individual execution.

Persian rugs are also records of regional textile history. An origin name points to a cultural and technical environment rather than to one fixed appearance. Keshan represents an established school within Persian rug making, with designs that may draw on older conventions while being produced in different periods. The relationship between a defined layout, repeated ornament, and a carefully built foundation is central to understanding the tradition without treating every example as identical.

The production period for this rug is given as 1970 to 1979. It therefore belongs to a modern period of Persian rug production in which traditional hand-knotting continued to be used. Calling it an original Persian rug identifies its Persian origin; it does not require every design detail to be linked to one historic pattern. The piece combines its Keshan attribution with manufacture in the stated period.

The origin also helps distinguish the rug from pieces made elsewhere with a Persian-inspired design. Here, the source identifies Persia as the origin and Keshan as the regional designation. That distinction matters because a pattern reference alone does not establish where a rug was made. In this case, the provenance and regional name are part of the stated identity of the rug.

Design and Pattern

Blue is given as the colour. In Persian rug design, blue can serve as a field colour, appear in a medallion, define scrolling forms, or strengthen a border. Its visual effect depends on the colours beside it, the density of the drawing, and the way the pile reflects light. Since no additional colours or specific pattern are stated for this rug, the description remains limited to the documented blue colour.

Keshan design traditions often use clearly organised fields and distinct border zones. A field may contain flowers, leaves, vines, or smaller infill elements, while a border frames the composition and creates a transition toward the outer edge. These devices belong to the broader regional vocabulary. They explain the design context of Keshan, but they do not identify a motif on this particular rug when the source does not name one.

Repeated ornament is common in Persian weaving. A series of related flowers, leaves, or scrolling lines can connect separate areas and create visual rhythm without making every element exactly the same. On a hand-knotted rug, this drawing is translated into coloured knots row by row. Small variations in line, spacing, or colour placement are compatible with the manual process and form part of the way a woven design is built.

A central medallion, where one is used, organises the composition around a visual centre. An all-over arrangement distributes ornament more continuously through the field. Keshan rugs may be encountered with different versions of these established Persian principles. For this rug, however, the source specifies only the colour blue and does not name a medallion, an all-over pattern, floral ornament, or a particular border. Those details should therefore be assessed from the photographs rather than stated as facts.

The appearance of blue can also change with the pile direction, lighting, and surrounding interior. Wool has a natural surface that catches light in varying ways, so a colour may look more or less intense across different areas. Trimming and the direction of the pile can influence this effect as well. These are general properties of woollen hand-knotted textiles and do not establish a particular design for this rug.

A precise summary of the documented design information is consequently a blue hand-knotted Persian rug associated with Keshan. The regional tradition supplies the historical and formal context, while the photographs remain the appropriate reference for details not stated in the written description. This approach keeps the Keshan attribution clear without adding an unverified pattern name.

Special Features

The documented features are its original Persian origin, its Keshan designation, its hand-knotted construction, its new-wool pile, and its cotton warp. The rug was made during the period from 1970 to 1979. Blue is given as its colour. Its condition is described as age-related, and the photographs are the reference for the visible condition of this individual piece.

The Keshan name connects the rug with a long-established Persian carpet centre. At the same time, every hand-knotted rug is a one-off because the final result depends on the chosen drawing, the workshop, and the work of the people who tied the knots. The stated material, origin, period, colour, and condition provide a clear factual classification without requiring additional claims about an unspecified motif or construction detail.

FAQ

Where does the rug come from?

The rug comes from Persia and is associated with Keshan. Keshan, also known as Kashan, is a recognised Persian carpet centre with its own tradition of hand production and design. The origin statement identifies the Persian source of this piece. It should be distinguished from a pattern name: here, both the origin in Persia and the Keshan designation are part of the stated description.

What materials is the rug made from?

The pile is made of new wool, and the warp is made of cotton. The rug is hand-knotted, meaning that the pile was formed by tying individual knots around the warp and securing the rows with weft. These are the materials explicitly given for the rug. No further fibre content or percentage is specified.

How is the condition described?

The condition is described as age-related. The photographs should be used to review the visible characteristics of this individual rug. The wording takes its age into account without claiming particular wear, repairs, marks, or other issues that are not specifically described in the source.