Fine Persian Qum Silk Rug

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 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 and artistic visual excellence, which can often be described as ground breaking. The fine silk used in their rugs allows the highly skilled weavers to draw exceptional precise detail often in minute scale.

This extremely fine and rare Persian Qum silk displays a magnificent interior mosque scene, with a stately, almost regal appearance. Depictions such as this are rarely seen, though when seen are made in exceptionally fine detail. The interior is rendered in a realistic fashion and is presented in such a way as though the viewer is about to enter the domed space. A quarter dome is supported by a wall of rhomboidal tiles above arches drawn with attention to perspective, giving depth to the interior which infers a circular interior space adorned with a magnificent central ogival vase issuing a carnation and chrysanthemum floral bouquet. Complementing columned arches are adorned with hanging lanterns flanking an hexagonal lobed tile adorned with a chrysanthemum bouquet. This Persian Qum silk rug also displays some unusual elements which includes a four branched candelabra is seen at the base of the rug, and the presence of the mirrored ‘sun and lion’ Pahlavi emblem as seen at the top of the rug flanking a trifoliate motif. The border also displays highly original, courageous additions away from established traditions, as seen in the miniature rugs and oval medallions enclosing meandering ascending blossoming trees which are curiously overlaid on the borders.

The detail of the pattern drawing combined with the colours used in this fine and rare Qum silk rug is truly exceptional yet consistent with the very best of Qum woven art. The predominant floral elements display minute flower heads and supporting short vines presented in a ton sur ton style blue on blue and violet on violet. This ton sur ton arrangement acts as a magnificent background to offset the other elements of the design to make them stand out and easy to define and read. Many of the blossoms are presented realistically as if painted, as seen for example, in the central bouquet emanating from the ogival vase where two tone shading is used to create a sense of depth and realism to the carnations and chrysanthemums. The range of colours used in this Persian Qum silk rug is immense, red, coral, dark blue, blue and pale blue, two tone violet, greens, shades of ochre and saffron, and ivory all magnificently juxtaposed to present a wonderful regal rendition of this rare and distinctive subject matter.

The vision of the Master Weaver, (Ustad), and the ability of the highly skilled weavers to convert this vision have combined to create a true master piece of woven art with an original interpretation of this rare subject matter in this magnificent Persian Qum silk rug.

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.