Isfahan rugs - Persian Masterpieces
Isfahan Rugs – the finest knotting in Persian weaving
The Isfahan is the king of Persian rugs. Fine cork wool knotted on a silk warp, floral medallions of razor-sharp definition and knot densities reaching a million knots per square metre – this is weaving at its most precise. The most important pieces carry the signature of their master workshop. At the Djoharian Collection you will find select original Isfahan rugs, each verified for provenance and quality.
Isfahan Rugs from the Djoharian Collection
The Isfahan is considered the king of Persian rugs – the finest cork wool on a silk warp, floral medallions of razor-sharp definition and a knot density that turns pattern into painting. What makes a true Isfahan is not its price, but its drawing, material quality and signature.
Workshops & signed masterpieces
The most important Isfahan masters sign their work. Among the names we carry – subject to availability – are Mahdie, Davari and Seirafian. A signed Mahdie, for instance, is not an everyday rug but a collector's piece: Ali Akbar Mahdie is one of the most gifted of designers, whose works rank among the most exclusive in the rug world. Every signed piece is checked for authenticity of signature and provenance before it enters our collection.
How to recognise a genuine Isfahan
A reliable mark of authenticity are the so-called khefts: differently coloured warp-thread markings, visible at regular intervals along the top and bottom ends of the rug. They reveal the craftsman's division of the knotting work and are characteristic of genuine, hand-knotted Isfahan rugs. Together with the cork-wool-on-silk-warp construction and the razor-sharp drawing of the pattern, they allow a true Isfahan to be identified with confidence.
Formats: Zaronim, Dozar & living-room size
Isfahan rugs are classically made in smaller formats, where their fineness shows best. Common are Zaronim (approx. 150 × 100 cm) and Dozar (approx. 200 × 130 cm) – the traditional Persian units for smaller, particularly finely knotted pieces. Larger Isfahan rugs in the 200 × 300 cm format are rarer and accordingly precious, as the high knot density across the surface demands enormous labour.
Djoharian Collection – since 1967. With roots in the Grand Bazaar of Tehran, we verify every piece for provenance and quality. Expert advice, fair production under Label STEP, direct import.