Very Fine Persian Esfahan Carpet – Signed

A Very Fine Persian Esfahan Carpet, Central Persia, Wool on Silk foundation, signed

Mid 20th Century

The ivory field with a pastel polychrome circular ‘shamsa’ medallion supported by scrolling swirling vine tendrils ending in split arabesques, overlaid with palmettes and linked to flower heads and curled leaves, complementary pastel polychrome spandrels, within a cream border enclosing continuous palmettes linked by curvilinear vines issuing flower heads and curled leaves, signature cartouche to one end.

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 sixteenth and 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 complex floral medallions. After a long period of stagnation the ‘revival’ of  Persian urban carpet 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. 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 were from the Seirafian family who, over generations succeeded in maintaining excellence and creating some of the finest decorative Persian Esfahan rugs and carpets of the 20th Century Pahlavi dynastic period. Persian Esfahan carpets of exceptional quality are still being made today. Not all recognisably fine Persian Esfahan rugs are signed by the Master Weaver.

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 to maximise the visual appearance of the pattern. 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 presented in blue, pale blue, cream, buff, and chestnut. The design in this form is often referred to as an ‘eslami’ or snake pattern. The swirling curvilinear blue and buff 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, in this case including varying shades of blue, buff, chestnut, pale violet, cream, pale saffron 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 woven artistry, displaying delicacy and elegance in the extreme. The composition presented in a range of characteristic subtle colours which maximises the visual impact of this magnificent Persian Esfahan carpet.

Very Fine, Signed 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.