A Palatial Lavar Yazd

Hand-knotted in the workshops of Yazd in central Persia in the 1920s, this is one of the largest and most colourful antique pieces in our collection. At 680 × 470 cm — nearly 32 square metres — it is a genuine palace-size carpet. The combination of cochineal red, saffron yellow and the sheer fineness of the drawing places it in the Lavar class, the highest quality grade in the Yazd / Kirman tradition.

The historic city of Yazd, in the high desert of central Persia, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its earthen architecture, wind-towers and long Zoroastrian heritage, Yazd has been a centre of fine weaving for centuries — a lineage to which a carpet of this grade directly belongs.

"Lavar" (also "Laver") originally referred to the village of Ravar, north of Kirman, whose weavers produced what are still considered the finest carpets of the region. The term became a quality designation for the very best work — exceptional knot density, master-drawn floral fields, and a palette built on the most expensive natural dyes. This piece carries those markers: hand-knotted at approximately 200,000–250,000 knots per m² on a cotton foundation, with a pile of hand-spun wool.

Design and Colour

The composition is classic Lavar Yazd: a central floral medallion with pendants set against an allover field dense with palmettes, rosettes and curling vines, framed by four ivory spandrels and a deep indigo main border of large palmettes and vase motifs. The palette is exceptionally rich — a carmine to madder-red ground achieved with cochineal, indigo blue, ivory, vivid pink and fuchsia, saffron and mustard yellow, sky blue, olive green and warm caramel. The combination of cochineal red and saffron yellow at this saturation is the clearest indicator of a Lavar-grade piece; both were costly dyes, and both age with great depth.

Condition

The carpet is in very good antique condition for its age, largely full-piled across the field, freshly washed and ready to lay. As with any hand-knotted carpet of roughly a century, it shows gentle, even age throughout — the natural patina of a piece that has been well kept. Edges and ends are sound.

A Collector's Investment

A palatial antique Lavar Yazd in this size, colour and grade is a genuinely rare object — carpets of nearly 32 m² in fine Lavar quality very seldom come to market. Beyond its presence in a room, a piece of this class is a lasting investment: the finest antique Persian carpets hold and build their value across generations, and Lavar-grade Yazd is among the most collectible of all.

Presence in the Room

At nearly 32 m² this is a carpet for genuinely architectural spaces. Three settings in which it comes into its own:

• Banquet or reception hall: A single anchoring piece for a grand, high-ceilinged room with panelling and tall windows.
• Long formal dining room: Generous enough for a table seating twenty or more, chairs fully pulled back.
• Grand living room or stately interior: The saturated palette suits strong architecture — marble or parquet floors, plaster ceilings.

Specifications

Responsible Origin · Label STEP

Djoharian is a certified partner of Label STEP, the international fair-trade organisation for hand-knotted rugs. STEP audits production conditions on the ground — wages, working environment, no child labour — and tracks pieces from loom to dealer.

Djoharian — Since 1967

Our family business was founded in 1967, with roots in the Grand Carpet Bazaar of Tehran. Five decades of trade and connoisseurship inform every piece we offer. As a verified seller on 1stDibs since 2013 (rated 5.0/5, Recognized Dealer), our rugs have been featured in productions including the film Spencer (2021). Each piece is presented with full provenance documentation and a certificate of authenticity.

Service

Secure and fast worldwide shipping, fully insured. Each piece is professionally packed and documented. For a carpet of this scale and rarity we welcome a viewing in our Lohr am Main showroom by appointment, and are glad to advise on placement, care or comparable pieces.