Esfahan antique

Esfahan antique

When Shah Abbas made Isfahan the capital of his kingdom in the late 16th century, this once-unimportant Central Persian city became the linchpin of the world in terms of science, architecture, politics, arts and craftsmenship. This included the development of some of the most outstanding carpet workshops in his kingdom, and to this day Isfahan carpet manufacturers enjoy an excellent reputation throughout the country.

The present piece is a particularly beautiful example of this tradition. Since the node density is very high (about 500,000 knots / m²), also the fabric itself is extremely complex. And so is the extremely intricate design, which has very few parallels in form and expression. While the centerpiece of the composition appears almost fantastic, it is beautifully complemented by its precisely textured and clearly accented outer border. In addition, the entire color palette – pink, ivory, dark blue, ruby, mother of pearl – is still so bright and vibrant that the design is almost brought to life. To dye this carpet, only the very best dyes available at that time had to be used. And given the excellent quality of the latter, it is very likely that they were obtained exclusively from natural sources.