ELEGANT AND BEAUTIFUL ISFAHAN PERSIAN RUGS

There are two types of Isfahan’s: the antique silk and metal thread “Polonaise” rugs woven on looms established by Shah Abbas (r. 1587-1629), and the finely woven 20^th century revival pieces created by Serafian and other master weavers after about 1920. This town today, once the Persian capital and located in central Iran, has a population of over 400,000, and its ultra-fine rugs, often in complex medallion designs, are popular with the wealthy worldwide. The short pile has a velvet feel and the designs are dizzyingly elaborated in the field with equally detailed borders. The numerous colors are crisp and abrash is kept to a minimum. Designs include fantastic prayer niches, semi-pictorials illustrating Persian landmarks and illusionistic copies of paintings and photographs.