Provenance and Manufactory Heritage

Hand-knotted in the great workshops of Kashan in central Iran around 1930–1940, this is a finely drawn antique carpet in the classical Kashan tradition. The town of Kashan lies on an ancient Silk Road route and has been celebrated for its weaving since the fifteenth century, when European royalty and nobility commissioned carpets from its looms for their courts.

From around 1870 a period of exquisite manufactories began in Kashan — among them Dabir and Mohtasham — renowned for their use of the finest imported English Manchester wool. The drawing of this piece follows the Dabir manner, named after the workshop that originated the design: a balanced, finely articulated floral composition that became one of the most sought-after expressions of the Kashan school.

The pile is fine highland wool — the lustrous "cork" or Manchester-grade wool for which antique Kashans are prized — knotted on a cotton warp and weft. Carpets of this provenance are typically worked at approximately 250,000–360,000 knots per m², the density that allows the small flowers, leaf veins and slender curling tendrils of the Dabir drawing to be rendered with such precision.

Colour and Composition

The composition rests on a luminous ivory-to-cream ground that gives the carpet its light, open character. Across it runs a finely drawn floral field of roses, blossoming bouquets and curling leaves — the decorative vocabulary for which the Dabir Kashan is known. The palette is gentle and well balanced: rose-pink and soft blues in the flowers, madder reds in the blossoms, and greens in the foliage, framed by a main border that carries the same floral repeat and is set off by fine ivory guard stripes.

The result is a carpet of quiet elegance — the saturated jewel tones of the flowers held against the calm ivory ground, in the measured, drawing-led manner that distinguishes a fine Kashan from its many later imitations.

An Antique Kashan as an Investment

Genuine antique Kashans of the 1930s — finely knotted in the lustrous Manchester-grade wool that is no longer produced — sit at the upper end of the antique Persian market and form a finite, appreciating category. A piece of this size, age and quality is both a furnishing and a tangible collector's asset and store of value, supplied with a certificate of authenticity and full provenance documentation — an acquisition that can be enjoyed underfoot while holding its standing in the international market.

Presence in the Room

At 375 × 273 cm (10.2 m²) this is a generous large-room carpet. Three contexts in which it reaches its full effect:

• Formal dining room: Under a table seating eight to ten, the ivory ground keeps the room light while the floral drawing reads as a measured pattern from above.
• Living room or reception: Anchoring a full sofa group, the gentle palette and fine drawing reward close looking from every seat in the room.
• Large bedroom or modern interior: The luminous ground and classical drawing bring historical depth to a restrained, contemporary setting — a deliberate counterpoint to minimal walls and clean lines.

Specifications

Responsible Sourcing

Djoharian is a Label STEP certified dealer for fair-trade knotted rugs — a commitment to dignified working conditions and against child labour in rug production. Visit the Label STEP entry for Djoharian Teppiche →

Trust and Provenance

With roots in the Grand Carpet Bazaar of Tehran and more than five decades of experience in the international rug trade, Djoharian has specialised in antique, designer and collector rugs since 1967. As a 1stDibs Recognized Dealer since 2013 with verified seller status and a 5.0/5 rating across 18 reviews, our pieces have been placed in private collections and stately interiors across Europe and North America. In 2021, a rug from our collection was featured in the film Spencer (Pablo Larraín, with Kristen Stewart as Diana, Princess of Wales).

Service and Acquisition

Every piece in the Djoharian Collection is expertly inspected in our atelier in Lohr am Main, professionally washed and shipped with a certificate of authenticity and full provenance documentation. We offer secure and fast worldwide shipping, fully insured. Viewing in our Lohr am Main showroom is welcome by appointment.

Djoharian — Antique and Bespoke Oriental Rugs since 1967.