KASHAN
Early 20th century, central Persia origin, wool fleece on cotton weave.
The carpets of urban manufacture par excellence in Persia are those of the north central region and they all come from a series of cities arranged along the north-south axis that connects Tehran to Isfahan. At the center of this axis is the city of Kashan, known since the 16th century for its textile production and for the very fine carpets, which were produced there in workshops close to the Safavid court. In the second half of the nineteenth century, after a period of decline that lasted over a century, the production of carpets was reborn, thanks also to the appearance on the market of numerous Western companies, which commissioned quality specimens to be exported to Europe and the United States. . In this period the ancient ateliers were reorganized under the guidance of new masters, who were able to blend the elements of the ancient tradition of the court carpet with the modern needs of Western customers. This specimen is characterized by an important central medallion and a rich flowery field, the details of the flowers are enhanced by a high finesse of the knotting.