Medallion Persian
Medallion Persian A Persian Kashan Rug -The Carpet of Kings Ever since the man appeared on earth, he has always been searching to better himself; better home, better food, better comfort and last ...
Medallion Persian
A Persian Kashan Rug -The Carpet of KingsEver since the man appeared on earth, he has always been searching to better himself; better home, better food, better comfort and last but not least, better ways of expressing himself. Surprising as it may seem, the expert weavers of the city of Kashan discovered the panacea of how to improve their life. They have found the balance between functionality and aesthetic comfort by reinventing the beauty of carpets, and by having a Persian Kashan rug you can also bring this equilibrium directly in your home. Kashan is an oasis city in the province of Ifsahan situated on a caravan route in the Dasht-e Kavir desert, which is right in the heart of Iran. It is heavily dependent on the mountains nearby, which provide water for the inhabitants; many houses in the city are built below the ground level to protect them from heat and scorpions. The weavers of this city pride themselves on having more than 5 centuries of experience producing stunning rugs and carpets, with only one recorded interruption in the 18th century caused by the Afghan invasion. In the 16th and 17th centuries the city was famous for its royal workshops, it is said that kings from wide spread corners of the world went there to buy carpets in person. The oldest remaining Persian Kashan rug dates back to 1542, and is displayed in the Victoria and Albert museum in London. At the end of the 19th century the flourishing garment trade took centre stage, however, it wasn't long before the rug trade retook it's rightful place in history. At the beginning of the 20th century they used to import Manchester wool, but they shifted to Sabzavar which is, of course, geographically more accessible. A Persian Kashan rug is easily recognizable because they have quite a limited range of patterns; most of them having a single diamond-shaped medallion in the middle, with a typical combination of curves and right angles and completed with a myriad of floral motifs (Shah Abbasi), leaf motifs and arabesques. Wild hunting scenes, palmettos and vases can also be found. A Persian Kashan rug will usually have a rather limited palette, with red, ivory, navy blue and some greens being the predominant colors. Ocre, olive green, white and brown can be found occasionally. Generally, the colors will be arranged in such a way as to convey a very pleasing contrast, not bold, but more conservative and sober in appearance suited for stylish classical interiors. Most of the carpets have a very fine base with wefts and warps made of cotton and a short, tight and thin wool pile. However, the most beautiful pieces, the ones of exceptional quality, are made entirely of silk. These, and those with a large number of KPSI (over 700), are quite rare and cost proportionally. Persian Kashan rugs are among the finest and most exquisite carpets in the world, so, just like in the case of other Persian rugs, be careful about fakes as there are many countries which produce chemically dyed, low-KPSI carpets who pretend to be Kashan producers but aren't. It would be a pity not to enjoy the original splendor of a real Persian Kashan rug! About the Author Arnold Hexden is known for his interesting articles on many subjects.You can read more about antique and Persian rugs on his website: The Antique Rugs Review and Directory which is at http://www.dreamantiquerugs.com. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
What's So Special About Antique Persian Rugs
The story of Aladdin brings to mind, one, the magic lamp and, the other, the magic carpet. Who can forget the magic carpet in the Aladdin cartoons and movies that talk via pantomime and movements? Even devoid of voice the carpet is lively and enlivening. Antique Persian rugs bring you the same vitality to your rooms, if you were ever fortunate to own one.
The Persian rugs fill your room with a classic combination of style and tradition. They are said to be the finest of all handmade rugs. These rugs are the manifestation of Persian art and culture that dates back to the Bronze Age. Imagine spending your weekends in such an ambience!
You cannot expect to have living beings on antique Persian rugs. They mainly have pictures of scrolling vines, geometric shapes, medallions, cloud bands, etc. Maybe because Persia's main religion was Islam that forbade the duplications of living beings through images. However, you can find animals rarely. It is also said that the Persian weavers use to add a minute flaw to the rug so that it doesn't reach the perfection that only God can create.
Now, let's lay it down. Antique Persian rugs would gel with the room if they are arranged in a traditional style. They can easily bring the feeling of familiarity and comfort.
Antique Persian rugs can be used for different purposes.
- Covering for the floor
This is obviously the most common use of the rug. Do think about the space the rug covers, its size, its colour, its pattern, etc. while using a rug for floor covering. Each factor is important and has to be a proper match for the room that it adorns.
- Wall hanging
When the antique Persian rugs are used to cover the walls they are displayed in their full grandeur. Rugs made of silk are mostly used as wall hangings. Here, again, you have to take care that it matches the colour of the wall.
- Covering for tables and bed
Rugs with thin piles are used to cover tables. You need to take more care here as tables are usually placeholders for other things as well. If you keep heavy objects on an antique Persian rug there are chances of it being crushed under its weight. Similarly, when you have flower vases on the rug you need to be careful of water leak and spillage.
An antique Persian rug is the exquisite result of hard toil. These rugs go back to 5th century BC. However, the ones that became popular and still remain popular are the ones that were woven around 15th and 16th centuries. It is said that Ghazar Khan, one of the rulers of Iran, ordered for Persian rugs for a mosque that he built in Tabriz. Hitler is also said to have used a Persian rug in his office in Berlin, Germany.
There are many famous galleries that provide antique Persian rugs all over the world. A tip to keep in mind is to always go for the best gallery to get the best. After all, integrating an exotic antique decorative rug demands a designer with unique talent along with the lightest but surest of touches. That unique talent doesn't come often and everywhere.
Persia had different places that specialised in making rugs like Tabriz, Kashan, Herat, and Kerman. Of these, the rugs from Tabriz became most popular. Anyway, you don't have to go to Iran now to get these rugs. They are easily imported to all the countries now. Now, there are several online stores as well that provide antique Persian rugs. You can make your choice easily as these sites have a large number of images that display these rugs elaborately. So, as long as you have prosperous pockets, you may be only a few clicks away from owning an antique Persian rug.
About the Author
Doris Leslie Blau, operating from East 61st Street, New York, has been in the business of high quality rugs since 1965 and can proudly claim to have sold some of the most beautiful carpets from a wide range of antique as well as custom made contemporary designs.
http://www.dorisleslieblau.com