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Isfahan Rug

Isfahan is located in western central Iran. Isfahan rugs have been and still remain very famous worldwide. Since Isfahan has been a capital city of many rulers including Shah Abbas of Safavid Dynasty, many mosques, palaces and other great monuments have been built in Isfahan, especially during the reign of Shah Abbas in the 16th and 17th centuries when Isfahan was a great center of art. These buildings have greatly influenced the rug designs of Isfahan.
One very common design is based on a large round medallion resembling the tile (mosaic) work of the interior of the dome of the Sheikh Lotfollah’s Mosque. Other designs include Shah Abbasi medallion and corner, islimi medallion and corner, trees with animals, Shah Abbasi all-over, geometric medallion and corner, and pictorals of people and nature, sometimes based on Safavid miniatures. Many colors are used in an Isfahan rug; seldom less than 15 colors are used in one rug. The colors most commonly used are turquoise, navy, red, beige and pale mushroom. The background and the borders are visibly divided by usually two to five minor borders.