Carpet MOMO Rugs Isfahan (stock)

Isfahan is an ancient city, but it gained prominence during the Safivid dynasties of the 16th and 17th centuries. The most famous Safavid was Shah Abbas, who founded the capital in Isfahan. Famous monuments include the Maidan-i Shah Square, where polo matches were played in front of the regents, long before the English invented polo. The square is now on the UNESCO list of cultural heritage that must be protected. The Ali Qapu Palace was the royal palace from which the square could be observed. Opposite it lies the magnificent Imam Mosque. A Persian saying describes Isfahan as half the world, and in earlier times it was a world city of artists and philosophers. The population is now 1.6 million. Many carpets from the 16th and 17th centuries, now in museums, are believed to be from Isfahan, and the city is still famous for its carpets. The patterns are often copied from old carpets, while the tile and mosaic work also inspires the knotters. The knotting is average to fine and the older carpets have cotton warp and weft, while silk threads in newer carpets replace these. The pile of many newer carpets is cork - velvet like wool, traditionally from the first shearing of the lambs. A newer trend is the knotting of picture carpets, often with scenes form Omar Khayyam. The village of Najafabad in the west of Isfahan knots coarse carpets, often in large sizes. The Isfahan carpets themselves are produced in all shapes and sizes, with the smaller ones often being finely knotted. The colours are usually good and bright.