A Palatial Lavar Yazd

Hand-knotted in the workshops of Yazd in central Persia in the 1920s. At 470 × 680 cm — nearly 32 square metres — it is a palace-size carpet, and pieces of this scale and quality are rarely offered. The combination of cochineal red, saffron yellow and the fineness of the drawing places it in the Lavar class, a quality designation of the Yazd / Kirman tradition.

The historic city of Yazd, in the high desert of central Persia, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its earthen architecture, wind-towers and long Zoroastrian heritage, Yazd has been a centre of weaving for centuries.

"Lavar" (also "Laver") originally referred to the village of Ravar, north of Kirman, whose weavers were known for fine carpets. The term became a quality designation for outstanding work — high knot density, master-drawn floral fields, and a palette built on costly natural dyes. This rug is hand-knotted at approximately 200,000–250,000 knots per m² (approx. 130–160 kpsi) on a cotton foundation, with a pile of hand-spun wool.

Design and Colour

The composition is classic Lavar Yazd: a central floral medallion with pendants set against an allover field dense with palmettes, rosettes and curling vines, framed by four ivory spandrels and a deep indigo main border of large palmettes and vase motifs. The palette is rich — a carmine to madder-red ground achieved with cochineal, indigo blue, ivory, vivid pink and fuchsia, saffron and mustard yellow, sky blue, olive green and warm caramel. Cochineal red and saffron yellow at this saturation are typical of Lavar-grade pieces; both were costly dyes, and both age with depth.

Presence in the Room

At nearly 32 m² this is a carpet for architectural spaces. Three settings in which it comes into its own:

• Banquet or reception hall: a single anchoring piece for a grand, high-ceilinged room with panelling and tall windows.
• Long formal dining room: generous enough for a table seating twenty or more, chairs fully pulled back.
• Grand living room or stately interior: the saturated palette suits strong architecture — marble or parquet floors, plaster ceilings.

Specifications

Djoharian — Since 1967

Our family business was founded in 1967, with roots in the Grand Carpet Bazaar of Tehran. Five decades of trade and connoisseurship inform every piece we offer. As a verified seller on 1stDibs since 2013 (rated 5.0/5, Recognized Dealer), our rugs have been featured in productions including the film Spencer (2021). Djoharian is a Label STEP certified dealer for fair-trade knotted rugs.

Service

Secure and fast worldwide shipping, fully insured. Each piece is professionally packed and inspected in our atelier in Lohr am Main. For expert washing and repair we offer our own professional rug cleaning service. For a carpet of this scale we welcome a viewing in our Lohr am Main showroom by appointment.