Pre-War Isphahan Carpet
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Older 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.
An Esfahan carpet, circa 1930
lot 44
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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.
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:
Links:
- 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: June 08, 2008.
For Further Reading:
Thanks and best wishes,
J. Barry O'Connell Jr.
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