JBOC's  Notes on Oriental Rugs

Classic Isfahan Carpets - Persian Rugs & Carpets
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Isfahan Carpets
Classic Isfahan 1500 to 1722

Classic Isfahan Carpets

Circa 1500 to 1722

Early in the reign of Shah Abbas the Great (Abbas Safavi) Abbas created royal workshops at Isphahan. The workshops continued production until the Afghan invasion in 1722. There is a group of classic carpets attributed to the workshops of Isfahan in this time period.

These carpets have been variously attributed to Isfahan, Mughal India, Herat, and referred to as Indo-Isfahan. My thoughts are that many of these are actually East Persian or Mughal. Certainly any with 5 or more plies in the warps should be considered for an attribution of Mughal in particular Lahore. Eiland is pretty convincing that they are Mughal but for now they represent a contiguous group and are know as Isfahan carpets.In a discussion of related carpets in the Keir Collection Spuhler made the observation that most of these carpets were found in countries that trade with the East India Company such as Holland and Portugal2.

One point that I want to note is that I see no reason to support the attribution of court carpets to Isfahan prior to 1600. Court carpets are not made in villages by peasants. It is necessary to have a court workshop and the availability of court artists. The designs are obviously made from cartoons and sophisticated cartoons at that. At times we see people attribute rugs to Isfahan in the earlier period but the carpets can not have been made before the workshops were established.

Isfahan carpet from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. 

Isfahan carpet from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. 

Professor Maurice Sven Dimand was very specific about these rugs. He attributed most of them to Herat and far fewer to Isfahan. He mentions clues such as deep colors, dark reds in the field and dark blue in the borders and trefoil guard borders3. At some point it became accepted to attribute most of the rugs called Herat  and reattribute them as Isfahan.

Ineterstingly it was the Armenians of New Julfa that produced the carpets made in Isfahan and it was Armenian merchants who controlled the India trade with Persia. It is likely that it was Armenian merchants who "out-sourced" the ptroduction of these rug to India where production was much less expnsive.

Structure:

Isphahan, Central Persia. The latter part of the Safavi dynasty circa 1500 to 1722

Size: Length to width ration 2 to 1 or greater.

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left.  9 - 10 knots per horizontal inch and 13 - 14 knots per vertical inch. 117 to 140 per square inch

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: cotton, Z4S, ivory

Weft: cotton, Z, three shoots, light brown

Pile: 2 wool singles.

Ends: Warp fringe.

Selvages: 2 cords of four warps wrapped in wool

Handle:

Further Notes:

Similar Rugs and attribution notes:

Please see RugNotes Guides Modern Isfahans  and Older Isfahans

Related examples:

Books & Articles

Links:

  1. Dimand and Mailey, Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, 1973 (pp. 119)
  2. Spuhler, F. Islamic Carpets and Textiles, London, 1978 Page 90 in a discussion of related carpets Spuhler made the observation that most of these carpets were found in countries that trade with the east India company such as Holland and Portugal.
  3. Dimand and Mailey, Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, 1973 (pp. 71)

For Further Reading:

Guide to Rugs & Books

La Miniature En Orient

Southwest Asia Time Line

Copyright Barry O'Connell 2004 - 2006.
Last revised: March 22, 2009.


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Thanks and best wishes,

J. Barry O'Connell Jr.

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