Very Fine Persian Esfahan Rug – Signed; IRAN-ESFAHAN EMADZADEH

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. 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 which are still being made today. Other significant Esfahan designers emerged at this time of which Emadzadeh was one of them, although output from his workshops is relatively small by comparison.

This fine Persian Esfahan rug displays a style of design which does appear from time to time, also  seen in Persian Tabriz rugs and Persian Kashan rugs. The design is made up of varying rhomboidal tiles in a formal arrangement with the pattern perfectly mirrored on both the vertical and horizontal axis including half tiles disappearing behind the border ‘frame’ giving the sense that the pattern continues beyond the confines of the border as an infinite repeat pattern. This is superbly rendered in this Persian Esfahan rug. The abstract lattice pattern is well known in the context of Arab Islamic culture. The oldest surviving examples are found on intricately-carved wood panels, primacy among which is usually awarded to a Syrian mimbar or pulpit datable to around the 12th-13th century AD. Interestingly, a variation of this abstract lattice pattern is seen on the Koran. The rhomboidal tiles in this Persian Esfahan rug are adorned with a variety of extremely intricately drawn flora forms derived from classical tradition including layered scrolling arabesques and palmettes issuing layered curvilinear vines linking smaller palmettes and sickle leaves. The intricate drawing magnificently breaks down the rigidity of the rhomboidal tile arrangement creating balance and movement to the composition. The border design is a superb addition which complements the activity of the main field formed by continuous conjoined stars each surrounded by rhomboids maintaining continuity to support the overall composition. The background colours used in this Persian Esfahan rug are relatively rare though seem to be seen in rugs that display versions of this particular style of pattern. Shades of brown, dull violet and dark blue contrast against ivory tiles ensuring maximum definition is presented. The pale blue outlining works superbly to enhance the visual impact of the design. Shades of red, coral, blue, green, deep saffron and ivory define the intricately drawn flora resulting in a highly decorative formal designed Persian Esfahan rug.

A fine Persian Esfahan rug of a distinctive style rightly recognised as a superior work of woven Esfahan artistry duly signed by the master weaver, Emadzadeh.

Signed Persian Esfahan Rug. 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.