Seirafian Rugs
The Seirafian Workshop was founded by Haj Agha Reza Seirafian who died March 18, 1974. There were seven sons:
Mohammad Ali Seirafian
Mohammad Seirafian
The Late Mohammad Sadegh Seirafian
Ahmad Seirafian
Ali Seirafian
The Late Hossien Seirafian
Mohammad Hassan Seirafian
There are also to my understanding 24 Grandsons who produce carpets. I do not have much information on the third generation except for the sons of Mohammad Seirafian.
Mohammad Seirafian
Mojtaba Seirafian B. 1946
Bagher Seirafian B. 1951
Mahdi Seirafian B. 1954
Mohammad Seirafian
Mohammad Seirafian’s three sons are great masters in their own right. With a limited number of examples my wife Jodi and I found the carpets of Bagher to be most outstanding but we look forward to see more from Mojtaba and Mahdi. Of the rest of the third generation I can say little. However a European has a large assortment of mundane quality signed Seirafians which makes me wonder if all maintain the quality that Mohammed’s sons achieve. I hope that we can get more examples and information on the whole family
In the west the best known of all master carpet workshops in Iran is Seirafian (often misspelled Sarafian in the west). When I was in Tehran I had the chance to meet and discuss Seirafian rugs with Mohammad Seirafian of the legendary Seirafian carpet workshop in Isfahan. The workshop founded by his father set the style of Isfahan Rug that lasts to this day.
How fine are Seirafian rugs and do some really reach 900 kpsi?
Legend has it the late Mr. Seirafian was able to reach 900 knots per square inch so I asked Mohammad Seirafian if it was true. 900 he asked as if he was not understanding my question. 900 is low he told me and then he showed a rug woven 35 by 36 knots per square inch for 1260 kpsi.
What about the forged signatures?
Fake Seirafian Signatures are a problem in that they are in the market and most people cannot tell the difference. Mr. Seirafian explained that the forgers use the Seirafian signature in Persian and English with the Iranian flag colors. He has never seen a Mohammad Seirafian signature forged. Seirafian mentioned that they know their own rugs.
The quality I saw in the Seirafian display was excellent. Quality was very high and the sales seemed brisk. I spent a good bit of time in the ICC area across from the Seirafian display and I saw a steady stream of customers. With that I saw that rugs were taken down and new inventory hung in their place. I asked about price and Mr. Seirafian explained that one of their rugs sold for 2 million dollars US but most were less.
Examples:
Sadegh Seirafian Arjan Isfahan Rug
Name: Arjan
Design: Eslimi corner medallion (1/4)
Designer(s): The late Master Archang
Warp: Silk
Pile: Fine Wool
Field color: Light Cream
Border color: Beige (Dark Cream)
Size: 160 cm x 260 cm
No. of Knots in width: 1600
Origin: Isfahan Iran
Sadegh Seirafian Flowers & Buterflies Isfahan Rug
Name: Flowers & Buterflies
Design: Natural flowers (1/1)
Designer(s): The Late Master Sadegh Seirafian
Warp: Silk
Pile: Fine Wool & Silk
Field color: White
Border color: Beige (Dark Cream)
Size: 156 cm x 247 cm
No. of Knots in width: 1600
Origin: Esfahan Iran
Sadegh Seirafian Gonbad-e-mina Isfahan Rug
Name: Gonbad-e-mina
Design: Medallion mosque design in farsi (Gonbadi) or multiple panel design in farsi (Ghab-Ghabi)
Designer(s): Master Dadkhah & The Late Master Sadegh Seirafian
Warp: Silk
Pile:Fine Wool
Field color: Dark green
Border color: Red
Size: 245 cm x 340 cm
No. of Knots in width: 2300
Signature: Sadegh Seirafian (S.Seirafian) Esfahan Iran in farsi & english
Origin: Isfahan Iran
Eslimi Isfahan Rug
Name: Rose & Blossom
Design: Natural flowers
Designer(s): Sadegh Seirafian
Warp: Silk
Pile: Fine Wool & Silk
Field color: White
Border color: Dark blue
Size: 107 cm x 175 cm
No. of Knots in width: 1000
Origin: Isfahan Iran
Sadegh Seirafian Red Field Eslimi Isfahan Rug
Name: Red field eslimi
Design: Eslimi corner medallion
Designer(s): The late master Allameh
Warp: Silk
Pile: Fine Wool & Silk
Field color: Red
Border color: Cream
Size: 117 cm x 167 cm
No. of Knots in width: 1200
Origin: Esfahan Iran
Seirafian Isfahan Rug circa 1950
8 ft. 2 in. x 5 ft. 3 in.
This rug ivory field with scrolling arabesques issuing flowering vine terminating in split palmettes surrounding a central cusped indigo medallion of similar design. A brick-red palmette vine border between ivory and indigo leafy palmette stripes are featured prominently. An oatmeal outer stripe with a signature cartouche in the kilim is located at one end. The rug contains full pile throughout and has localized spot stains. Everything is in overall good condition.
Seirafian Isfahan Rug, mid 20th century
7 ft. 6 in. x 4 ft. 11 in.
Mid-20th century, silk foundation. An inscription panel reads: Esfahan Seirafian
Signed “Esfahan Hossien Seirafian” Isfahan Rug, 1960
3 ft. 6 in. x 2 ft. 3 in.
The ivory field with a flowering vase is flanked by blossoming trees with perching birds. The awkward configuration of the two lower birds’ neck is a traditional expression of this genre, dating back hundreds of years. Indigo spandrels with leafy vines in a scrolling acanthus leaf are between ice-blue split-palmette and flower head stripes. Overall, the rug is in excellent condition.
Muhammad Ali Seirafian Isfahan Carpet, circa 1920
Isfahan Seirafian Carpet by Muhammad Alt Seirafian, Central Persia, Circa 1920
11 ft. 5 in. x 7 ft. 7 in.
The date is very optimistic. Muhammad Ali Seirafian’s father Haj Agha Reza Seirafian of Isfahan did not enter into the rug business until 1939 so 1920 is unlikely. However, this in no way demeans the value of the carpet. It’s a wonderful example by one of the great Masters of Iran. Shah Abbas in all his glory never had a carpet like this. It’s signed at one end, has full pile throughout, and contains minute spot stains in the central field. May benefit from a light clean.
Sadegh Seirafian Red Field Eslimi Isfahan Rug
Name: Rose & Blossom
Design: Natural flowers
Designer(s): Sadegh Seirafian
Warp: Silk
Pile: Fine Wool & Silk
Field color: White
Border color: Dark blue
Size: 107 cm x 175 cm
No. of Knots in width: 1000
Origin: Isfahan Iran
Early Mehdi Seirafian Isfahan Rug, circa 1980
Dimensions: 3 ft. 9 in. x 5 ft. 3 in.
Origin: Persian
Category Area Size
Foundation Materials: Silk
Pile Materials: Wool %100
Circa: 1980
Woven: Hand-Knotted
Condition: Superior
Knotting Time 320 Days 2880 Hours
Professionally Washed
This is an outstanding example of the early work of Mehdi Seirafian. Mehdi is the grandson of Master Haj Agha Reza Seirafian and the youngest son of Master Mohammad Seirafian. Note the tree that dominates the main field. The gnarled branches hearken back to late 15th century style of the Turkmen school of Persian art in Tabriz in the 1490s.
One charming convention that we see in this rug is the flowers that appear to grow out of rocks. This is a convention that we see in Tabriz in the 16th century and spreading to Mashhad in the mid 16th. The dark clouds are akin to mid 16th century clouds perhaps more in the Shiraz style rather than Tabriz. All in all, the rug shows the work of a designer who can combine the best of different periods of Persian art and the sophistication to make them his own.
What makes this rug even more remarkable is that we can see that Mehdi Seirafian surpassed many of the masters of Iran while still only in his twenties. Mehdi was born in 1953.
Signed Serafian Isfahan Rug
Origin: Iran – Ispahan
Type: Signed Serafian Ispahan rug woven on silk base.
Size: 2.78 m x 1.41 m
Condition: Mint
Description: An 8 point centre medallion rug with ivory field supported by gentle and soft colours of blue and red and gold. The medallion, corners, and flora motifs from the Shah Abbassi style of Ispahan combine to make this a pleasing and elegant rug. The dark blue of the medallion is found in the two extreme minor borders. Noteworthy of this rug is the fineness, multiplicity, and perfection of detail.
This is a splendid example of an older Serafian. This one has particularly well drawn Islimi, which is the swirling pattern in the field with a leaf at the end.
Signed Serafian Isfahan Rug
Origin: Iran (Persia) – City of Ispahan
Type: Signed Serafian Ispahan silk base.
Size: 1.66 m x 1.04 m
Condition: Mint
Description: The two headed 8-point medallion in the rug, with its white field, Shah Abassi floral motif, is gracefully joined by fine and delicate Eslimi spirals. Soft shades of pale blue, cream, mushroom, mignonette and royal blue produce a softness unusual in this type of weave. The rug has personality all in its own. The medallion is echoed in the corners, framed by gently patterned border which highlights the simplicity of the pattern.
Hassan Seirafian Pictorial Rug
An Isfahan hunting rug, 180 cm x 105 cm, silk warp, weft undetermined (silk?), pile wool, low cut, knot count no less than 10 x 11 cm2.
This rug has been attributed to Master Hassan Seirafian of Isfahan by the workshop of the Late Master Sadegh Seirafian. After examining the description and images I defer to the Seirafians and fully concur in that attribution.
Mohammed Seirafian Rug
This master weaver is pure kork and has 900 KPSI. The quality of this rug is extremely high. This rug has silk foundation. This is an excellent choice for the ones that appreciate nice design. The rug is in Excellent condition. It came directly from Iran.
Size: 5 ft. 2 in. x 3 ft. 3 in.
Condition: Excellent
Made: Iran (Isfahan)
Pile: Wool
Foundation: Silk
Pattern: City
Dated: Approx. 1960
Fringes: Cotton
Sadegh Seirafian Medallion Rug
An Isfahan Classic-Style medallion rug
172 cm x 108 cm
Silk warp, weft undetermined (silk?), pile wool, low cut, knot count no less than 10 x 11 cm2. This rug has been attributed to Master Hassan Seirafian by the workshop of the Late Master Sadegh Seirafian.
