Qum, in central Iran, is one of the youngest of the great Persian weaving centres — its workshops only rose to prominence in the 20th century — yet it produces some of the finest silk carpets in the country, prized for tight knotting and luminous colour.
The 'Garden of Paradise' design, seen in this piece, is a recurring theme across Persian weaving: a formal garden laid out in rug form, with flowing water channels, cypress trees and flowering borders representing an earthly vision of paradise.
Why Qum silk still commands a premium
A Qum silk carpet can take well over a year to complete on a single loom, with knot counts that dwarf most wool pieces. That density is what gives the surface its sheen and lets the garden motif render in such fine detail.
