Workshop Heritage and Knotting Tradition

The workshop of Hadji Mollah Mohammed Hassan Mohtasham operated in Kashan in the second half of the nineteenth century and is one of the best-known names in Persian rug history. Mohtasham is associated with the use of fine Manchester wool imported from England — finer and more even than locally available wool — and with a precise floral drawing that became a template for the classical Kashan rug.

This piece, attributed to the Mohtasham workshop, was hand-knotted in Kashan, Iran, between 1860 and 1870, making it approximately 155–165 years old. It is made of 100 % imported Manchester wool on a cotton foundation, with a finely drawn floral design across an ivory field. The piece carries the patina of its age: the drawing remains legible throughout, with the pile lower in the centre of the field.

Colour and Composition

The composition is the classical Kashan medallion-and-corner layout. A luminous ivory-cream field is filled with finely articulated floral vinework and carries a central lobed salmon-apricot medallion with a pale star and pendants. Deep navy-indigo spandrels frame the corners with ivory floral tracery, and a broad navy-indigo main border carries floral scrollwork in salmon-rust, ivory, light blue and olive green, with light-blue corner rosettes. The palette pairs the cool depth of the navy ground with the warmth of salmon and rose.

Presence in the Room

At 135 × 208 cm (2.8 m²) this is a small to medium format. Given its age, it is best placed as a wall hanging or in a low-traffic interior. Three contexts in which the Mohtasham comes into its own:

• Wall in a library or study: mounted as textile art, the finely drawn Kashan pattern becomes the focal point of a room of books or quiet panelling.
• Salon or reception room: as a single textile in a refined space, the rug adds historical depth.
• Display alongside other 19th-century textiles: the piece sits well with other 19th-century Persian textiles in a considered presentation.

Specifications

Djoharian — Since 1967

With roots in the Grand Carpet Bazaar of Tehran and more than five decades of experience in the international rug trade, Djoharian has specialised in antique rugs since 1967. On 1stDibs we have been a Recognized Dealer since 2013. Djoharian is also a Label STEP certified dealer for fair-trade knotted rugs (new production).

Service and Delivery

Every piece is expertly inspected in our atelier in Lohr am Main before dispatch. For expert washing and repair we offer our own professional rug cleaning service. We offer secure and fast worldwide shipping, fully insured, and personal consultation in our showroom or by video call.