Exceptionally Fine Persian Nain Carpet

The city of Nain is a relatively recently established centre for the production of decorative furnishing carpets with designs predominantly based on 17th Century Classical Persian designs. Carpet production became established here in the 1930’s and rapidly became a significant centre for the production of exceptional decorative carpets. Due to the close proximity to Isfahan, an historically important centre for the production of technically fine and highly decorative rugs with a tradition dating back to the 16th Century, it would be inevitable that much of Nain pattern repertoire would be hugely influenced by the outstanding Isfahan workmanship, and traditional iconography.

The technical fineness of much of Persian Nain workmanship is comparable to the finest technical finesse as seen in any other significant centre of Persian urban carpet weaving. A good deal of emphasis is placed upon the colour palette which is distinctive to Persian Nain carpets. Shades of blue and beige with green and red detailing are often present ivory, and ivory silk is frequently used as a ‘highlighting’ material to enhance the visual appearance of their carpets. Central medallion formats are a major part of their design repertoire, though all over repeat patterns are also prevalent as is the case in this Persian Nain carpet.

This splendid Persian Nain carpet possesses all the attributes of the very best of Persian Nain weaving. The wool is of the best quality, soft and lustrous supported by fine silk highlighting to enhance the visual appearance where it has been applied. The use of fine soft Kork wool and the presence of silk allows for the pile to be finer knotted and as such allows for greater clarity of the pattern details clearly evident in this magnificent detailed example. The design of this Persian Nain carpet is extraordinarily complex; the field pattern with a characteristic offset repeat medallion design does display a very individual and highly effective decorative format. Three different styles of medallion are presented here as main repeat medallions, applied in offset rows though diversed from established tradition, A courageous design, which breaks established tradition creating movement and expresses great individuality from the Designer and Weavers. A limited number of traditional colours from the Nain palette are present with tones of blue, ivory, and ivory silk, present. The curvilinear flow of the border patterning enhances the activity of the main field.

This majestic Persian Nain carpet is a rare example of Persian Nain workmanship at its best, confirmed by the originality of the design format, the use of limited traditional colouring to produce the most potent effect, and the technical excellence in its construction. An extremely sophisticated harmonic design is presented, which suits well as a large scale piece.

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.