Superfine Oversize Silver Blue Pink Raspberry Palace Size Persian Kerman Rug

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An incredible palace size earlier 20th century Kermanshah rug in predominant blues, gray and raspberry. Woven with the finest of … Read more An incredible palace size earlier 20th century Kermanshah rug in predominant blues, gray and raspberry. Woven with the finest of Manchester wool.

Measures: 11'8'' x 21'8''

Kirman was a very important weaving centre dating from the Golden Age of Persian culture under the Safavid Dynasty in the 16th century, on a par with Tabriz and Kashan in esteem. Located in the great desert of Southern Persia, Kirman has been an important trading and weaving centre even before the time of Marco Polo. Kirman carpets were some of the first Persian rugs to make their way to the west, where they were eagerly sought out in Europe and, starting in the late 19th century, among the industrialists of the American Northeast. The weavers of the Kirman region, in turn, were influenced by European culture and from the 16th century developed a soft, graceful style that combines elements of Classic Persian court carpets with the colors and designs found in French textiles.
The weavers of Laver created a very small quantity of highly elite carpets, known in the trade as Kermanshahs, a term of great respect. These are truly "best-of-the-best" carpets, and even a small room size piece took a number of years at great expense to create. Thus, 19th-century Kermanshahs in even fair condition are highly valued. An antique Kermanshah carpet can be recognized by a number of traits that distinguish it from the equally esteemed Laver Kirman. Most notably are its extraordinary Fine weave and extremely closely shorn pile. As well, a true Kermanshah presents exquisite detail work, with the edges of the designs having a chiseled effect. Finally, many Kermanshahs employed a Fine grade of lambswool, rather than the sheep's wool used in the vast majority of antique carpets. This gives their surface a particularly magical lustre.

The finest 19th and turn of the 20th century Laver Kirman and 19th century Kermanshah carpets are seldom-found in today's market, and are highly sought out by connoisseurs and collectors in Europe and America for their stunning artistic impact.

Laver Kirmans and Kermanshahs are most usually found in the roomsize (usually 8ft x 11ft to 10ft x 14ft), or area size (typically 4ft x 6ft to 4ft 6in x 7ft) formats. Only occasionally are they seen in the oversize or palace size format, and unfortunately, runners and keleges (corridor carpets) are virtually never available. They have been traditionally superb art investments, a trend which is now strengthening as highly artistic, antique examples in good condition have become increasingly difficult to find. See less