Exceptionally Fine Esfahan Carpet – Signed

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. The ‘revival’ of the Persian urban carpet industry of the 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. From the early years of the 20th Century In pursuit of technical excellence, established in Classical times there appeared a number of highly skilled designers determined to establish and maintain excellence in woven carpet art. The most famous of these designers was Sadegh Seirafian who along with family members over generations succeeded in maintaining excellence and creating some of the finest decorative carpets of the 20th Century Pahlavi dynastic period which are still being made today. The finest examples are often signed by the master weaver and this magnificent Persian Esfahan carpet bears the inscription of the established master weaver.

This exceptionally fine Persian Esfahan carpet shows a highly complex formal design demonstrating Esfahan craftsmanship at its most accomplished, and in line with the ‘Revivalist’ style of representation. Overlaid on the airy ivory ground eight sets of thin vine tendrils curl in perfectly executed circles ending in ‘rumi’ or split palmettes. They swirl around a complex multi-layered radiating ‘shamsa’ medallion drawn in exceptional detail and presenting extreme elegance. The design in this form is often referred to as an ‘eslami’ or snake pattern. The colours are from an established 20th century Esfahan palette with the emphasis on varying blue and red shades, magnificently juxtaposed on an ivory ground. The blue spandrels are drawn in such a way as to form a ‘medachyl’, or reciprocal repeat with the ivory ground. The circular form of the spandrels enhances the fluidity of the composition and coloured deep blue offers a magnificent complementary contrast to the main field activity in this Persian Esfahan carpet. The red border pattern superbly compliments the main field composition with pattern details drawn in the same technical fineness as the field elements.

This Persian Esfahan carpet epitomises all the finest characteristics associated with Pahlavi dynastic woven artistry and presents delicacy and elegance in the extreme.

Very Fine Esfahan Signed 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.