(#H1362) approx. 168x111cm Hand-knotted Isfahan (Isafahan) silk carpet

Carpet from Isfahan

The city of Isfahan is located in central Iran at the foot of the Zagros Mountains. It has a rich history of carpet making and ruled by Malik-Shah I. and later by Shah Abbas the Great, Isfahan was chosen as the capital of Persia (Iran). The history of carpet making in Isfahan has been interrupted several times mainly due to military occupation and invasion. Also spelled and pronounced as Isfahan, Sepahan, Esfahan or Hispahan, the city reached its peak during the Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736), particularly under the rule of Shab Abbas, when culture spread throughout Persia around the city of a renaissance in art. Many cultures settled in Isfahan over time and even today this cosmopolitan city is full of intricate works of art, amazing mosques, bridges, palaces and world-famous architecture. Besides architecture and fine carpets, Isfahan is also famous for its textiles, artworks, steel, handicrafts and metalworking, as well as traditional food and sweets. Isfahan carpets are of excellent quality, using soft cork wool (often with details or silk underlays) and a very tightly woven pile. Collectively, the carpets woven in this city are perhaps the finest and most valuable in the world. The most popular design is a central medallion surrounded by tendrils or flowers, most commonly red, blue, or indigo on an ivory background. Other popular items and motifs include vases, garden and tree of life motifs, Shah Abbasi motifs and picture pieces. The inspiration for the carpet design comes from traditional patterns and motifs, nature, poetry and the great poets, but also from the city's rich architectural history; the famous Mosque of Shah Lutf Allah is a particular muse for many carpets created in this great city. A large Isfahan rug with an overlaid design A beautiful Isfahan rug with a traditional central medallion design and coloring A complex Isfahan rug The knots per square inch used in rugs woven in Isfahan can range from 120 to more, but are variable usually over 200 if woven in the city itself and not in a surrounding town or village. Many high-quality Isfahan carpets are based on silk base materials, which makes them extremely fine and valuable. Sizes vary, but most are medium to large. Famous weavers include the Seirafian family and workshops. Some of the most expensive carpets in the world come from Isfahan. Many of them were woven before the Afghan invasion and therefore predate the 17th century. The world-famous Polish carpets, with their silver and gold threads, were also woven in Isfahan - and not in Poland, as the name might suggest. A Safavid carpet from Isfahan made of silk and wool sold for $4,3 million A Safavid carpet from Isfahan sold for $4,45 million to auction house Christie's The most expensive Isfahan carpet ever sold for $4,65 million In the top ten most expensive ever Of the carpets sold, three are from Isfahan, confirming that the “City of Art” is one of the most important places for the production of handmade artworks for the floor. From left to right: A Safavid-era Isfahan polonaise woven from silk, wool and metallic threads (left). This rug was sold at Sotheby's in 2009 for $4,3million, which was £2,75million at the time. Measuring 1,6m x 1,1m, the rug fetched an incredible $2,44 million per square metre. At the time of writing, this rug was the ninth most expensive in the world. However, inch for inch, it is the second most expensive rug ever sold. Another Safavid-era rug, this Isfahan silk rug (centre) was part of the Doris Duke Collection and was sold by Christie's in 2008 for $4,45 million. At the time of sale, this rug was the most expensive ever sold. With a size of 2,3 x 1,7 m, the carpet cost the private collector the horrendous sum of 1,14 million dollars per square meter. The carpet is currently the seventh most expensive in the world. Sotheby's sold this Isfahan rug (right) from the William A. Clark in 2013 for $4,65 million.