Fine Silk Kashan Souf with metal brocade

317 x 208 cm (10' 5" x 6' 10")
Persia, ca. 1900
Condition: very good, full pile, slight signs of use on the fringes
Warp: silk, weft: silk, pile: silk and metal brocade

This souf Kashan carpet is one of the most beautiful of all the Kashan carpets. The souf technique involves the design being piled as in a normal carpet. The ground however is flatwoven, making the design stand out both physically and visually. Sometimes additional metal threads are found in the weft; very few Souf carpets have this technical feature.
Despite - or perhaps because of - its rich variety of colors, it appears harmonious and elegant. The precise weaving attests to the highest level of craftsmanship and, combined with the finest materials, brings the pattern to life in a dynamic way.
At the center is a medallion of immense complexity, adorned with precious metallic threads within the central diamond.
This technique is known from the so-called Polonaise carpets of the Safavid period and is used here in a pleasantly subtle way.
There is no restraint, however, in the use of shiny silk in the most joyful colors, which stand out against the lime-green ground. The cartouche and star-octagon border was also developed by the Safavids and is very lively in its design here. Small birds are hidden within the cartouches, perched on flowering branches.
The brown-gold tendrils swirl around the center and are adorned with palmettes, elegant flowers, classic rosettes, and hidden cloud bands. A luxurious carpet full of joy.

Estimate: € 30000 - 40000