Description of Design and History
Kashan, a city of north central Iran. Great court carpets were woven in Kashan during the Safavid period, but carpet weaving virtually ceased after the Afghan invasion in 1722. There was little weaving during eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. At the beginning of the twentieth century, carpet weaving was commenced using the merino wool from Australia that had been spun in Manchester, England. These “Manchester” Kashans had velvety, glossy wool. They were woven until the early 1930’s, the onset worldwide economic depression. Thereafter, local wools were used. An extremely fine medallion and corners Kashan carpet with decorative repertoire of unique beauty, knotted in pure kurk neckwool to create a pile texture of velvet-like density and suppleness. Throughout the exotic field arrangement, each arabesque or rhumi split-leaf ornament from the classical Safavid Court design vocabulary is imbued. s Using this fascinating Shah Abassi design approach with central medallion, the magnificent two-lobed dark blue and green medallion is enclosed. Drawn with such understanding that the grace and flowing rhythm of the abstract classical approach is consistently maintained. In the surrounding field area, colorful roses, palmettos and leaves. It is in dark blue and green corner decorated as well as patterned. Of the particular notes are the ‘open’ arabesque of the dark blue main border, with their internal gold rosettes, and the graphic virtuosity of the outer border, with its repeat of multi-colored rosettes against a segmented beige and indigo background. The dyes of this Kashan masterwork are all natural and of luminous beauty, and the item is preserved in superb condition throughout. This example is woven by Master Weaver Mr. Dabir Sanayee.