Keschan

An outstanding multiple Medallion Carpet - Kashan has never been among the most prolific of the great Persian carpet cities, with its weavers working in their own homes rather than in workshops, and traditionally prioritising quality over quantity. Yet in those infrequent eras when merit alone governed Persian knotting culture, the carpets of Kashan have set the standards of excellence other leading origins strove to meet. The pervasive presence of the city's heritage in the present collection illustrates the degree to which its carpets encapsulated the ideals of their uniquely distinguished period. A finely balanced distributed design of octofoil medallions linked on a delicate scheme of flowering stems typifies the general move away from central medallion compositions seen in many of the most illustrious Pahlavi Court examples. Delightful animal drawing in the border combines with a ravishing luminosity of colour and impeccable craftsmanship to give this work its satisfying aura of completeness.