Handmade Persian Rug

This hand-knotted Persian rug is known as Isfehan, named after the province and its capital, Isfehan, located in central Iran. Isfehan has earned a stellar reputation for producing fine-quality hand-knotted rugs and carpets for centuries. Its legacy of craftsmanship flourished particularly during the 16th and 17th centuries when Isfehan was the capital of Iran under the reign of Shah Abbas II, who was a passionate patron of the arts, providing funding and support to encourage this craftsmanship.

The design of this rug features a classic medallion, adorned with arabesque patterns. The medallion at the center symbolizes the “center of life,” incorporating the numerological motif of the number eight, which represents perfection. The number eight appears eight times in various motifs throughout the center, symbolizing abundance. Essentially, this design can be seen as a Mandala pattern, deeply rooted in Persian rug tradition.

This rug is primarily made from pure fine wool with some silk accents on a cotton weft (fringe). It has a knot density of 256 knots per square inch. The rug measures 79 inches by 60 inches, covering a total area of 4740 square inches. With a total knot count of 1,213,440, it takes an average craftsman about 1733 hours to weave. However, this is just the final stage in a lengthy process of rug creation, which also involves making the loom (which can take a few days, depending on size), designing and coloring the pattern (which can take months), dyeing the materials, and finally, the weaving process.