Mohtashem Rugs

From the late-19th to the early 20th century the finest quality rugs from Kashan were called Mohtashem and said to be from the workshop of “Mohtashem”. Today it is generally assumed that Mohtashem is an indication of fine Kashan workshop production rather than a firm attribution. However with the existence of some signed Mohtashem rugs it is certain that the workshop existed.

The early Kashan carpets were made with imported merino wool that was called Manchester wool. in the trade. The wool is softer and finer than the native Iranian rug wool. This came to an end with he financial collapse that started the Great Depression. At the same time as the collapse of the stock market the world rug market collapsed as well. The major British and German rug companies defaulted on their commitments and Reza Shah stepped in to nationalize the major carpet companies. At this point the use of the more expensive imported wool ceased and what we know as a Mohtashem Kashan carpet ceased as well.
The Origin of Mohtashem Kashan Carpets

In The Persian Carpet A. Cecil Edwards suggested that Haj Mullah Hassan introduced the modern Kashan carpet through his Arak born wife. This certainly has the ring of truth at least to the Arak origin of Mohtashem Kashan. A significant number of the older Mohtashem Kashan carpets use what I call a tulip and blossom border. Old Mahal Carpets also use a variation of the tulip and blossom border. Mohtashem Kashan carpets and Mahal carpets both use an asymmetrical knot open to the left. Mahal carpets ranges from 60 to 150 knots per square inch, with the older ones tending towards the lower end of the scale. Mohtashem Kashans ranges from 200 to 300 knots per square inch, with the older ones tending towards the upper end of the scale. An interesting thing about Mohtashem Kashans is that the oldest examples tend to have the highest knot counts but a certain crudeness of design. This seems completely logical if they were created by weavers using Mahal carpets as their model.


Kashan Rug Mohtashem Style
Kashan Rugs: Kashan Rug Mohtashem Style Rippon Boswell
Origin: Central Persia, late 19th century
Size: approx. 189 x 131 cm


Mohtashem Kashan Prayer Rug C. 1900
Mohtashem Kashan Prayer Rug C. 1900
MEASUREMENTS
approximately 6ft. 8in. by 4ft. 8in. (2.03 by 1.42m.)
DESCRIPTION
circa 1900 remnants of original magenta silk bindings, oxidized charcoals, losses to selvages, partial ends, foldwear, moth damage


Mohtashem Kashan Rug
 
Kashan Rugs: Mohtashem Kashan Rug, Sotheby's lot 116
DESCRIPTION
A “Mohtashem” Kashan rug, Central Persia, circa 1900, original end finishes, magenta silk selvages with some fraying, approximately 6ft. 10in. by 4ft. 4in. (2.08 by 1.32m.)


Mohtashem Kashan Rug C. 1890
A Mohtashem Kashan Rug, Central Persia,
DESCRIPTION
A “Mohtashem” Kashan rug, Central Persia, circa 1890, oxidized browns, small losses to ends, sides partially overcast and fraying, approximately 6 ft. 11 in. by 4 ft. 8 in. (2.11 by 1.42 m.)


A Mohtashem Kashan Carpet C. 1900
Kashan Rugs: A Mohtashem Kashan Carpet C. 1900
MEASUREMENTS
approximately 19ft. 3in. by 13ft. 1in. (5.87 by 3.99m.)
DESCRIPTION
circa 1900 tinting, false fringes, reselvaged


A Mohtashem Kashan Carpet C. 1900
Kashan Rugs: A Mohtashem Kashan Carpet C. 1900
MEASUREMENTS
approximately 7ft. 1in. by 4ft. 5in. (2.16 by 1.35m.)
DESCRIPTION
circa 1900 the ivory field with a lobed bold dark blue medallion and light blue spandrels, all with delicate vinery issuing palmettes, flowerheads and leaves, dark blue floral garland border, rewoven outermost end guard stripes


Doris Leslie Blau Mohtashem Kashan Carpet C. 1900
Kashan rug
MEASUREMENTS
approximately 7ft. by 4ft. 1in. (2.13 by 1.24m.)
DESCRIPTION
circa 1900


Kashan ‘Mohtashem’ rug circa 1880
Kashan Rugs: Kashan 'Mohtashem' rug

A Kashan ‘Mohtashem’ rug, Central Persia, circa 1880

MEASUREMENTS

207 by 133cm. 6ft. 10in. by 4ft. 4in.


Kashan Rugs: Mohtashem Kashan Carpet C. 1890 

Kashan Rugs: Mohtashem Kashan Carpet C. 1890

A Kashan ‘Mohtashem’ carpet, Central Persia, circa 1890

MEASUREMENTS

332 by 231cm. 10ft. 11in. by 7ft. 7in.


Mohtashem Kashan Carpet Last Quarter 19th C. 
Kashan Rugs: Mohtashem Kashan Carpet Last Quarter 19th C.
MEASUREMENTS
approximately 10ft. 6in. by 7ft. 10in. (3.20 by 2.39m.)
DESCRIPTION
last quarter 19th century magenta silk bindings, partially oxidized charcoals, minor moth damage, minor partial end guard stripes, small splits, fragile foundation in areas


Mohtashem Kashan Rug c. 1890
Kashan Rugs: Mohtashem Kashan Rug c. 1890

A ‘MOHTASHEM’ KASHAN CARPET, CENTRAL PERSIA

MEASUREMENTS

290 by 234cm. 9ft. 6in. by 7ft. 8in.

DESCRIPTION

Circa 1890


Motasham Kashan Rug
Kashan Rugs: Motasham Kashan Rug

Motasham Kashan Rug, West Central Persia, late 19th century, (minor moth damage), 6 ft. 9 in. x 4 ft. 6 in.


Motasham Kashan Rug
Kashan Rugs: Motasham Kashan Rug

Motasham Kashan Rug, West Central Persia, late 19th century, (some dryness in center, small tears, crease repair, small spots of wear, new fringes added), 6 ft. 7 in. x 4 ft. 5 in.


Motasham Kashan Prayer Rug, West Central Persia, Late 19th Century
Motasham Kashan Prayer Rug, West Central Persia, Late 19th Century
Description: Small repairs, some glue residue on back, very small hole.


Motashem Kashan Carpet, c.1890
Motashem Kashan Carpet, c.1890
Origin: Central Persia, circa 1890

Measurements: approximately 9ft. 11in. by 8ft. (3.02m by 2.44m)

Condition: Minor moth damage, stains.


Motashem Kashan Carpet, c.1890
Motashem Kashan Carpet, c.1890
Origin: Central Persia, circa 1890

Size: approximately 16ft. 4in. by 11ft. 7in. (4.98m by 3.53m)

Condition: Minor foldwear.


Motashem Kashan Carpet, Central Persia
Motashem Kashan Carpet, Central Persia
Date: circa 1890

Size: 9ft. 6in. by 7ft. 8in. (290 by 234cm.)


Motashem Kashan Carpet, c.1890
Motashem Kashan Carpet, c.1890
Origin: Iran/Persia, circa 1890

Size: approximately 7ft. 2in. by 4ft. 6in. (2.18 by 1.37m.)

Condition Note: One original end finish, oxidized charcoals, minor moth damage.


Motashem Kashan Carpet, Last Quarter 19th C.
Motashem Kashan Carpet, Last Quarter 19th C.
Origin: Iran/Persia, last quarter 19th century

Measurements: approximately 15ft. 10in. by 12ft. (4.83 by 3.66m.)

Condition Note: Oxidized browns, repaired slits.


Motashem Kashan Carpet, Late 19th C.
Motashem Kashan Carpet, Late 19th C.
Origin: Central Persia, late 19th century

Measurements: approximately 13ft. by 10ft. 1in. (4.22 by 3.07m.)

Condition Note: Oxidized browns, repiling, tinting, overcast sides.


Motashem Kashan Carpet, Central Persia
Motashem Kashan Carpet, Central Persia
Date: Late 19th century

Size: approximately 15ft. 4in. by 10ft. 2in. (4.67 by 3.10m.)

Condition Note: Oxidized charcoals, minor losses to selvages.


Motashem Kashan Carpet, Late 19th C.
Motashem Kashan Carpet, Late 19th C.
Origin: Central Persia

Measurements: approximately 19ft. by 13ft. 5in. (5.79 by 4.09m.)

Condition Note: Fragile areas, rejoined slits, very small reweaves, reselvaged.


Motashem Kashan Rug, c.1900
Motashem Kashan Rug, c.1900
Country of Origin: Iran/Persia

Size: approximately 6ft. 7in. by 4ft. 2in. (2.01 by 1.27m.)

Condition Note: Overcast sides, minor partial end guard stripes, 2in. by 2in. reweave to center.


Motashem Kashan Prayer Rug, circa 1900
Motashem Kashan Prayer Rug, circa 1900
Origin: Central Persia

Size: approximately 6ft. 9in. by 4ft. 7in. (2.06 by 1.40m.)

Condition: Original flatwoven end finishes, oxidized charcoals, very minor moth damage with spot repiling.


“Mohtashem” Kashan Prayer Rug, c.1900
"Mohtashem" Kashan Prayer Rug, c.1900
Origin: Central Persia

Size: approximately 6ft. 8in. by 4ft. 8in. (2.03 by 1.42m.)

Condition: Remnants of original magenta silk bindings, oxidized charcoals, losses to selvages, partial ends, foldwear, moth damage.


Kashan Mohtashem Souf Prayer Rug, Central Persia, circa 1900
Kashan Mohtashem Souf Prayer Rug, Central Persia, circa 1900
Size: 6ft. 11in. by 4ft. 4in. (210 by 131cm.)

Kashan Mohtashem Souf Prayer Rug, Central Persia, circa 1900


“Motashem” Kashan Rug, C. 1900
"Motashem" Kashan Rug, C. 1900
Origin: Central Persia

Measurements: approximately 17ft. 4in. by 11ft. 10in. (5.28 by 3.61m.)

Description: inscribed ‘Ghazan and Company’

Condition: Original end finishes, stains, recolored reds.