Keshan, Central Persia
Right between Isfahan and Teheran, close to the edge of the great desert Dasht-e-Kavir, lies the city of Keshan with 400’000 inhabitants. The city has been famous for a long time for its textiles and its pottery. The Fin garden, many tradesmen buildings from the 19th century and the bazaar could be of interest to visitors. The city was important as a trading place and as a resting place along the Silk Road, but has been in the shadow of Isfahan for quite some time now.
The carpets are handmade in the city of Keshan and its surroundings. The most famous carpet is the Ardebil Carpet (crafted in Keshan in the 16th Century) which can be seen in the Albert museum in London.
The Keshan rugs come in very traditional red, navy blue and ivory background. The knot count varies from 250.000 to 500.000 per m2 , and the materials used are mostly wool for the pile and silk as well as cotton for the warp.
The characteristic design of a Keshan is its famous medallion and the allover design with the popular arabesques. The best rugs were made during the Safavid dynasty 1502- 1736 AC and later in the 19th century when Iran became a powerhouse politically and financially.