Joshegan

Joshaghan is a city in central Persia fifty miles or so south-west of Kashan. Although its old name, Joshaghan-i Qali (literally Joshaghan of the carpet) indicates that it has had a long history of weaving, what exactly was made there prior to the end of the 19th century has never been satisfactorily established. Today, Joshaghan is associated with one particular design, an all-over lattice of rhomboidal lozenges, each one of which is formed of tiny stylised cruciform flower heads and quatrefoils, forming solid blocks in the corners. Most examples have red or ivory grounds. They are asymmetrically knotted on cotton foundations and vary considerably in quality. Even the least finely knotted examples are attractive and very hard wearing and, as a group, Joshaghan carpets are among the most popular of present-day furnishing carpets.