A Brief History of Shah Abbas Carpets

Shah Abbas carpets depict a meandering vine and flower border with a field of palmettes issuing angular flowering and leafy vine. These exquisite carpet pieces are called "Shah Abbas" carpets after the Iranian monarch of that name who reigned during AD 1587-1629. Shah Abbas was the 5th Safavid king of Iran and is generally considered the greatest ruler of the Safavid dynasty. He left a far-reaching mark on the society and artistic heritage of Iran, renovating the country's spectacular shrines and transforming its trading relations with the rest of the world. He was very fond of the arts and specifically hand-made carpets.

Shah Abbas was responsible for a large portion of the Persian rug industry by setting up royal rug factories all over Iran and making Isfahan the country's capital. This typically Persian style carpet widely influenced carpets in Kurdistan and the Caucasus and also Indian court carpets. The term Shah Abbas is also used when referring to a pattern style in which the central patterns are made up of arabesque motifs, palmettes and lotus motifs in elegant shapes which demand a high knot density. This carpet pattern is usually found in carpets such as the Keshan, Isfahan, Mashad, and Nain. It is also found in carpets produced in India, China, and Pakistan, that replicate the Persian style. Today, a Shah Abbas carpet is among the finest Persian rugs available. The Shah Abbas carpet is a perfect reflection of this and brings elegance and sophistication to any room it graces.

Sources and inspiration: Bérinstain, Valérie, et al. L'art du tapis dans le monde (The art of carpets in the world). Paris: Mengès, 1996. Print.; Jerrehian Jr., Aram K.A. Oriental Rug Primer. Philadelphia: Running Press, 1980. Print.; Herbert, Janice Summers. Oriental Rugs, New York: Macmillan, 1982. Print.; Hackmack, Adolf. Chinese Carpets and Rugs, Rutland and Tokyo: Tuttle, 1980. Print. ; De Moubray, Amicia, and David Black. Carpets for the home, London: Laurence King Publishing, 1999. Print.; Jacobsen, Charles. Oriental Rugs A Complete Guide, Rutland and Tokyo: Tuttle, 1962. Print.; Bashir, S. (n.d.). Personal interview.; Web site sources and dates of consultation vary (to be confirmed). Without prejudice to official usage.