Very Fine Persian Qum Silk Rug – Signed

The city of Qum is a recently established centre for the production of urban style rugs with workshops appearing there from around 1927 onwards. It rapidly became a significant and important centre for the creation of technically extremely fine silk rugs and carpets, though fine wool pile rugs are also made there. The repertoire of their designs is varied, ranging from designs based on  Safavid Persian traditions of the 16th and 17th Centuries, through to individual creative designs of unparalleled technical excellence and artistic visual excellence, which can often be described as original and ground breaking.

This exceptionally fine Persian silk Qum rug displays a characteristic design of central medallion format. The design is based on traditional 17th century Persian iconography and composition as seen in a particular style as seen in Urban workshop rugs of the Classical era. This magnificent Persian Qum Silk rug is exceptional in a number of ways. The design presents a symmetrical rendition in the horizontal and vertical axis, which is consistent, though not exclusive to this style of Persian Qum rug. The plain red field is adorned with a floating blue central medallion; such arrangement emphasise the importance of the central medallion and focusses the viewers’ attention on the remarkably fine and complex floral pattern. The sheer mass of varying flower heads and palmettes is truly remarkable, only possible to present with exceptionally fine knotting and only able to be applied by highly experienced weavers. Often the corner spandrels are presented as quarter medallions repeating the colours and pattern as seen in the central medallion. However, this Persian Qum Silk rug displays contrasting ivory spandrels, complementing the overall composition; not repeating the central medallion pattern, in this instance simply serves to enhance the overall appearance of this Persian silk Qum rug.

Whilst this fine Qum silk rug displays a traditional format, there are significant elements to the overall composition consistent with a Qum approach to originality. This originality is seen in the outer secondary border which extends at each corner beyond the confines of the rectangular border frame creating an outer square adorned with ‘mother and baby’ botehs. This originality continues with the inclusion of the ivory and pale blue floral cartouches, which would, when applied appear as an integral feature within the main border. The outer deep burgundy surround bearing the inscription is also original and and is an artistic triumph enhancing the entire composition.

The number of colours used is exceptional with varying shades of red, blue, aquamarine, green, terracotta, yellow and ivory carefully arranged to produce consummate harmony supporting the incredible technical skills of the weavers in their rendition of the pattern details. Particularly noteworthy is the relatively sparse use of bright yellow used to great artistic effect serving to ‘bring alive’ the pattern for greater visual impact.

Very Fine Signed Persian Qum Rug. This piece was handwoven in Qum , 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.