Fine Persian Esfahan Carpet

Rug #2153
Size: 361 x 257 cm / 11.8 x 8.4 ft
Handwoven in: 
Design: 
Category:  
POA

Fine Persian Esfahan Carpet Medallion design Fine Kork Wool (Cashmere)

 

An Extremely Fine Persian Esfahan Carpet, Central Persia, Kork Wool (Cashmere) on Cotton Foundation

Mid 20th Century

A fine Persian Esfahan carpet with a red and pale blue stepped oval medallion on an ivory ground with an all over swirling polychrome floral pattern with a red flowering vine border

 

Esfahan is one of the most important and influential Persian cities of rug weaving, and boasts a proud tradition of carpet making dating back to Safavid Dynasty of the seventeenth century. Esfahan was then the capital of Persia and many of the historically important court carpets of this period that survive today have been attributed to Esfahan.

Persian Esfahan rug designs consist of sublimely delicate patterns of arabesque tendrils, palmettes, and cloud-bands in rich magentas, blues, and saffron golds. After a long period of stagnation the ‘revival’ of the Persian urban carpet industry of the late 19th century and twentieth century resulted in Esfahan continuing the style and consummate technical virtuosity of their classical forerunners, although often with a sympathetic colour palette in tune with ever changing contemporary tastes.

Ivory ground Persian Esfahan carpets are particularly appealing and are frequently seen in the Persian Esfahan carpet repertoire. They present a light airy appearance which acts as a superb backdrop, making the fine pattern details easy to read and highlights the exceptional detail of each element.

Here we see an oval shaped red stepped medallion with a blue and pale blue centrepiece intricately woven with vine scrolls adorned with palmettes, flower heads and leaves, reflecting in smaller scale to the field decoration elements. The swirling curvilinear blue vines are layered on two levels, each overlaid with polychrome palmettes and flower heads in varying orientations ending in complex multi leaf forms. The colours are from a typical extensive Esfahan palette including varying shades of blue, red, coral, saffron, violet, and ivory, magnificently combined to create the best possible image. The style of design originates from 17th century Safavid classical tradition, and is rendered in a typical style associated with fine 20th century Esfahan craftsmanship. This Persian Esfahan carpet includes a particular feature which further enhances the stately airy appearance, as seen with the addition of saffron coloured vines, flower heads and leaves layered behind the blue tendrils. Apart from the outstanding field decoration, the spandrels are equally impressive, arcaded in shape adding fluidity to the design and presented with delicately drawn inner saffron flowering vines followed by complex blue strap work framing flat violet floral corners. This arrangement is a great example of Esfahan originality which magnificently enhances the entire composition. The sublime complex design as seen in this Persian Esfahan carpet is mirrored perfectly on both the vertical and horizontal axis, demonstrating the outstanding skill of the Esfahan weavers. The red border acts as a harmonic contrasting frame to the main field area and typically displays a complementary palmette and scrolling curvilinear arabesque design consistent with the very best of Esfahan woven art.

 

 

Fine Persian Esfahan Carpet. This piece was handwoven in Esfahan (Isfahan) , Iran. For further information please contact us and our team will be pleased to assist you. All pieces in the collection are under the auspices of Essie Sakhai, one of the world’s foremost experts and collectors of fine handmade Persian rugs and carpets.

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