Sabzavar Persian Carpet

Sabzavar Persian Carpet Size: 6 foot 8 inch by 9 foot 5 inch. This is a Persian Carpet from Sabzavar. Sabzavar is an ancient city that has been one that has been an important city in the production of fine Persian Carpet since at least 1565. Why then don't we see more carpets from Sabzavar in the west. The main reason is that when they are shipped here they are usually called Isfahans or Mashad or sometimes even Sarouks. One important point about Sabzavar carpets is the quality of the wool. Sabzavar is the home of some of the very best wool because of the trace minerals in the water. Sheep need trace amounts of copper in the water to produce the highest quality wool.

Sabzavar Carpet, Iran, Mid 20th century, Size: 6 foot 8 inch by 9 foot 5 inch. Structure: Symmetrical knot. 7 knots per horizontal inch and 8 knots per vertical inch. 56 per square inch (868 per square decimeter) Yarn Spin: Z. Warp: 3 ply corded white cotton. Weft: 2 shots white cotton. Pile: 2 wool singles. Ends: Post-hitch wharf binding with 1 inch warp fringe. Selvages: 1 cord overcastting red wool. Handle: Heavy, durable, soft. Further Notes: Excellent condition. Not For Sale

Sabzavar as a historical Carpet Center

Sabzavar is the most probable source of the great vase carpets of the Sixteenth century.  I realize that such leading luminaries as the late Charles Grant Ellis and the late Dr. May Beattie have suggested Kerman as the source but I have to disagree. Technically and stylistically we have three interrelated groups that musty be viewed as a whole. First there are Vase Carpets which are clearly related to Sanguszko Carpets and Sanguszko Carpets are clearly related to some of the so-called Salting Carpets. I suggest that Vase carpets and Sanguszko carpets must come from the same sixteenth century source. Further I suggest that Sanguszko Carpets are Court Carpets and must be the product of a court manufactory. There was no court and there was no court manufactory in Kerman in the Sixteenth century. There was no court manufactory in Kerman until at least the reign of Abbas Safavi the great. Obviously the Sanguszko carpets are clearly earlier and there fore can not be from either the court artists of Abbas Safavi or Kerman.

By the way I am not suggesting that Salting Carpets came from Sabzavar. However if we follow Persian history from the death of Soltan Ibrahim Mirza whose court produced the Vase carpets then it becomes obvious where the Salting Carpets must have been made.

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Thanks and best wishes,

J. Barry O'Connell Jr.

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