Polonaise carpet exhibition at Iran Carpet Museum

by Hesam Keshavarz

A special exhibition of seven Polonaise carpets at The Carpet Museum of Iran in Tehran opened 21 September 2012 and will run through 21 October 2012.

Despite the name it is now concluded that the Polonaise carpets, also called Polish carpets, were made in Isfahan in the late 16th and 17th centuries. Some of these carpets have the coat of arms of Polish aristocratic families but were, according to The Carpet Museum of Iran, woven in Iran during the Safavid period, on the order of Polish nobilities and aristocrats.

Polonaise carpets have silk pile, cotton warps and are brocaded with gold or silver thread in some parts. The carpets often have light colors such as light green and blue, losing their original colors over time.

Polonaise carpet, arabesque design, silk and cotton & silver thread, 17th century, Isfahan, 140 * 205 cm, asymmetrical knot, 55 knot per 6.5 cm.

Polonaise carpet, medallion with palmettes design, silk and cotton & silver thread, Isfahan,17th century, 145 * 203 cm, asymmetrical knot, 50-55 knot per 6.5 cm.

Polonaise carpet, multiple – panel design , silk and cotton & silver thread, Isfahan, 17th century, 141*206 cm, 50-55 knot per 6.5 cm.

Polonaise carpet, medallion design with Shah Abbasi flowers, silk and cotton & silver thread, Isfahan, 17th century, 180* 410 cm, 55 knot per 6.5 cm.

The Carpet Museum of Iran, designed by Architect Abdul-Aziz Farmanfarmaeian

Hesam Keshavarz, Shahed University of Tehran Faculty of Arts