Kashan

Country: Persia (Iran)

Category: workshop and master-workshop

Price range: medium/high to wealth

General details The reputation of rugs made in the central Persian city of Kashan was so high that, according to Persian folklore, it was considered a compliment to say a person came from Kashan, for this implied that they possessed quality and style.  Contemporary Kashans are among the finest rugs produced today, but the standard of individual items rather more than it does with Isfahans, and it is important to assess each item on its own merits.  they may be woven on either cotton or silk foundations, with between 200 and 400 Persian knots per sq inch (pure silk items may have 600 or more).  The pile wool, which is normally clipped quite low, is silky and very high quality.  Kashan designs have changed less under Pahlavi influence than those of many other Persian workshop groups. Items are still produced in traditional colours and compositions.  Their most common design is sculpted, diamond-shaped central medallion, set against an intricately purling palmette and floral field, but allover Shah Abbas, vase, hunting and pictorial schemes are also found.  The traditional palette is dominated by rich reds, blue, ivory, yellow ochre, burnt orange and occasionally green, although more recently Kashans have been produced in much paler, pastel tones.  The most famous name in Kashan weaving are Mohtaschem and Atasch Oglou, there are few contemporary weavers who can justifiably be elevated to the master-workshop class.

Resale value: A good quality Kashan, whether wool or silk, is generally considered a very sound investment, but all Persian workshop carpets are susceptible to fluctuations in the market, and resale potential is not as assured as it once was.

                                                          Antique Kashan prayer rug