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Antique
Esfahan Persian Rug
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Antique and Vintage
Isphahan Rugs & Carpets
Up until World War I the
city of Isfahan was a weaving center but for garments not rugs. As a
result of the changes during the war years fashions shifted and by 1919
Isfahan was out of vogue as a garment center. Someone got the idea of
weaving rugs. They used the soft Merino wool that they had used in
cloth and made Persianate fine rugs. The market loved the new rugs.
They were attractive and best of all comparatively inexpensive. They
incorporated the classic art of Shah Abbas which could be seen on
architecture throughout Isfahan.
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All
through the twenties the new Isfahan rug industry grew prosperous.
Europe was a ready market for these rugs. The United States was
resistant to them however. The reason was the rug it self. The Isfahan
in those years was fine with 4 - 500 knots to the square inch not being
uncommon and they were clipped short to make the design crisper. To
many these rugs were very attractive but in the US the popular rugs
were thick heavy rugs that were subjected to antique washes, bleaching,
and even painting. The Isfahan did not lend it's self well to the
indignities of the American market so they were sold in Europe.
In life there are certain major
events that do not just shape individuals but shape society as a whole
as such they are useful markers in time. The next major change was the
Great Depression. Selling rugs was not nearly as difficult as getting
paid for them. As the money supply tightened the rugs were difficult to
sell and consequently the loom owners shifted to native Persian wool
rather than the more expensive imported Merino. The wool feels harder
and more bristly. So here we have a change that we can see and feel. If
the wool is the older softer Merino then attribute it to the 1920s and
if it is the harder native wool than 1930s or later.
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Antique
Esfahan Persian Rug
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How the rugs were made is very
important to understanding them. Early on the wefts in Isfahan
rugs were hand spun from cotton.This fitted because hand spun
cotton was a major industry during the garment period. The hand spun
cotton wefts had slubs. Now not to worry slubs are not some little
creature that lives under rocks in the garden. A slub is an iregularity
in the width where the thread is thicker in some spots and then
thinner. To the novice it is easy to decided that this is bad and
causes an inferior rug. However quite the opposite is the
case the slight irregularity draws the eye through the piece
and makes it more attractive rather than less. Silk was rarely used in
the older Isfahans and warps were usually cotton. Silk was occasionally
used in the best pieces but wool warps and wefts are unheard of. |
Best Books:
The best books on 20th century Isphahan rugs are The
Persian Carpet by Cecil
Edwards and Oriental
Carpet Design. by PRJ
Ford.
Ford
mentioned in his book that the wefts in Isphahans often have slubs. So
that by inspecting the back you can find the abrupt widening of the
wefts. This is why the backs of Isphahans are less regular than Tabriz
and Kashans.
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Antique Isfahan, Hali
October 1990 Issue 53 page 95. 458 by 326 cm
Ad by Feichtinger KG2.
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There are a number of rugs attributed to that
period between 1722 and 1919. In The
Persian Carpet Cecil Edwards
indicated that he thought Isfahan date to only about 1919 as
a major weaving center. Enough credible people have dated Isfahans to
1900 or earlier that I must to assume that pre1920 is the
product of a "minor weaving center".
Here we have a an Isfahan advertised in Hali 53 it
was called an "Antique Isfahan". Since no firm date was indicated we
can only assume a rug that was antique in 1990 must predate W.W.I
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Antique Nadir Shah Isfahan
Late 19th Century
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Antique Nadir Shah Isfahan Late 19th Century
In Kings,
Heroes, and Lovers the great Iranian scholar and artist Parviz Tanavoli
attributed this rug to Isfahan in the later part of the 19th
century 3. I have learned that one can not take Tanavoli lightly when
it comes to attributing Persian rugs. We know some rugs were woven in
Isfahan between 1722 and 1919 and it stands to reason that that they
might look like this. Nadir Shah was a particularly revered Shah in
Isfahan so his picture is fitting.
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Sotheby's
Esfahan Rug Circa 1900 lot 59
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Isphahan Rug, Isphahan proper and the surrounding
area, Iran.
Size: Most rugs are Zaronim (3 by 5 foot) or large
Dozars (5 by 7 foot). Dozars sell for more per foot generally. Some
Pushtis, Zaroquarts and small carpets are made as well.
Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the
left. Average 200 to 500 knots per square inch.
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: White cotton
Weft: 2 shots hand spun cotton one or
both usually blue.
Pile: 2 wool singles.
Ends: plainweave skirt with warp fringe.
Selvages: 1 cord plain wool.
Handle: Light - medium.
Further Notes:
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Similar Rugs
- Tabriz rugs may look like a Isphahan but have
symmetrical knots and more regular wefts.
- Kashans may resemble Isphahan rugs but have more
regular wefts and have a more traditional formal appearance.
- In this period Nain rugs are a type of Isfahan.
Please see RugNotes Guides Modern
Isfahans and Classic
Isfahans
Related examples:
Books
& Articles - Sources on Isfahan Rugs:
- 1. Edwards,
A. Cecil. The Persian Carpet. London 1953. page 307.
- Hali October 1990 Issue 53 page 95. Antique Isfahan.
- 2.Tanavoli,
Parviz. Translated by Wertime, John. Kings, Heroes, and Lovers
Copyright
Barry O'Connell 2004 - 2006.
Last revised:
April 04, 2010.
For Further Reading:
Thanks and best wishes,
J. Barry O'Connell Jr.
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