Josheghan Persian Rug
 
Dimensions | 3'6" × 4'11"
Origin | Iran
Type | Hand-Knotted / Double-Wefted
Pile Material | Wool
Foundation Material | Cotton
Condition: Very Good - Excellent fringe on the ends and selvage on the sides. The pile is medium to low with small areas of low pile.
 
  Joshagan rugs are made in an area of western Iran, about 60 miles northwest of Isfahan, 25 miles southwest of Kashan, and west of Nain. Joshagan has some unique designs, which have been readily copied by weavers in Isfahan, Qum, and Kashan. These are usually copies of old designs, with overlapping geometric and floral designs. Joshagan ruhs have some interesting borders, including the Harshang (crab) motif, and beetle-like motifs in the borders. Since 1700, Joshagan has had unique designs and patterns, including vase designs, which are now found in a number of other Persian carpets and the Joshagan rug production appears to have had a dominant influence on Persian carpet design.
  Joshagan, and its associated villages, lies high in the mountains, north of Isfahan. The Joshagan weaving tradition appears to carry various features that were previously associated with the great carpet industries of of eastern and southeastern Iran. Nadir Shah, around 1730, transported leading weavers of Kirman and Khorassan, to the Isfahan region. This forced migration of weavers adversely impacted the carpet-weaving industries of east and southeast Iran, setting them back into a decline. In the process of the relocations, Joshagan carpet weaving carried various eastern rug features into the west, and vestiges of the old eastern traditions remain reflected in Joshagan rugs today. Some scholars attribute various designs to the Joshagan weavers of the 16th and 17th centuries, spreading the vase carpet design, and the over-all patterns, throughout the west. Other scholars disagree with this argument, and state that the Joshagan villagers were too remote, and too simple, to be responsible for spreading those designs. In any case, the movement of weavers laid the groundwork for a major flowering of the carpet weaving traditions in 19th century western Iran.
The bulk of Joshagan carpet production today comes from a string of small town and villages in a mountain valley, on the road to Isfahan. These communities include Joshagan, Meimeh, Vazvan, Khosrowabad, and Morcha Khurt. Many of these produce rugs with very fine weaves, and many with natural dyes.
  One particular Joshagan design is a well-known standard design. This includes a small medallion, which is sometimes omitted. Sometimes a geometric framework is imposed on the ground. Flower sprays always have symmetrical forms, and are arranged in diagonal rows. The border often contains a Herati variant, although the angular form used by the Meimeh is not found elsewhere. Most of the grounds are red, but there are some dark blue and light blue grounds, and occasionally even cream-colored ones. These rugs are produced in many of the standard Persian sizes. A particular variant of the Joshagan standard design is made in Kashan and Qum. The design can also be found in Dozar sizes, in rugs from Arak and Hamadan.