A large city and weaving district in North Central India that has been prolific in producing tightly knotted, decorative, floral rugs. These design motifs have been handed down from generation to generation and these famous old patterns are highly reproduced today.
Isfahan is a city of ancient foundation but which came into prominence under the Safivid Dynasty in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The most famous Safavid was Shah Abbas, who established his capital in Isfahan. Famous monuments include the maiden or square, used at one time for polo matches, the Royal Mosque and Friday Mosque, and the bridges over the Zaindeh Rud, which for much of the year is a trickle. A Persian proverb describes Isfahan as 'half the world' and certainly in its heyday it was a cosmopolitan city of artists and philosophers. Its population is now over 1 million.
It is thought that many of the sixteenth and seventeenth century carpets now in museums originated in Isfahan, and the city remains famous for its carpets. The Designs are often copied from old carpets, while tile and mosaic work also inspired The Designers. The weave is medium to fine, with, in older carpets a warp and weft of cotton, replaced by silk in more recent work. The pile in many recent carpets is 'kork'- velvety wool, traditionally from the first clippings of lambs. A recent trend is the weaving of pictorial rugs, often with scenes from Omar Khayam. The village of Najafabad to the west of Isfahan weaves similar but coarser rugs, often in large sizes. Isfahan rugs themselves are made in all sizes, the small ones generally more finely knotted. Colours are typically light and delicate.
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