2'9" x 13'1" Persian Nain 6La Navy Blue Runner | Wool and Silk

This beautifully hand-knotted Persian Nain runner measures 2'9" x 13'1" and is woven to the refined 6La standard, one of the finest grades produced in the workshops of Nain, Iran. The 6La designation refers to a six-ply yarn construction that allows for a more compact pile and a higher knot density than coarser grades, resulting in a surface of exceptional clarity and detail. At 500 to 600 knots per square inch, every motif across this runner is rendered with a sharpness and precision that places it firmly in the collector and investment grade category of Persian production. The pile combines hand-spun wool with silk highlights set over a stable cotton foundation, giving the rug a rich, velvety texture with a luminous quality that shifts subtly with the viewing angle. The rug is in excellent condition and has never been used.

Design and Motifs

The composition follows the classic Nain multi-medallion runner format, with five individually drawn star-form medallions distributed evenly along the central axis of the 13-foot field. Each medallion is a layered rosette of interlocking geometric petals, arabesque scrolls, and palmette forms rendered in ivory, light blue, and grey against the deep navy ground. Pendant diamond finials hang above and below each medallion, connecting the composition into a flowing vertical sequence that draws the eye along the full length of the runner. Between and around the medallions, the navy field is filled with a dense all-over arabesque lattice of curling ivory vines, full floral heads, lotus blossoms, split-leaf arabesques, and scattered crescent moon motifs that create continuous movement across the entire surface. Quarter-medallion corner spandrels frame each end of the runner, completing the classical Persian medallion-and-corner format. The primary border is a wide ivory ground carrying a continuous scrolling vine with large alternating floral heads in light blue, grey, and caramel, enclosed by narrow guard stripes in taupe-gold with small repeating rosettes.

Colors and Placement

The central field is a deep, commanding navy blue, a rich indigo-navy tone with excellent depth and density across the full length of the runner. It reads as sophisticated and bold in both natural and artificial light, providing a strong dark ground that allows every ivory and blue motif to stand out with high contrast and clarity. The arabesque lattice and floral vine work throughout the field are rendered in warm ivory and cream, glowing against the dark ground with a luminous quality that gives the surface a striking three-dimensional visual depth. The medallions introduce layers of cool blue tones: the outermost scroll rings are in light sky blue, the inner arabesque layers shift to a softer steel and grey-blue, and the very center of each rosette is rendered in pale ivory or antique cream with small caramel accents at the core. Teal appears selectively throughout the field in certain leaf tips and small floral centers, adding a jewel-like depth that enriches the overall blue palette without disrupting the tonal harmony. Soft beige and caramel tones fill the vine stems and secondary leaf bodies throughout, warming the composition against the cool navy ground. Pale pink appears as a delicate accent on smaller flower petals scattered across the field and border. Dark brown and black are used for precise outlining throughout, sharpening every motif edge and giving the design a crisp, graphic quality at close range. The broad border ground is warm ivory, populated by scrolling vines in light blue, grey, caramel, and teal. This palette is versatile and refined, working beautifully in interiors with navy, grey, ivory, charcoal, or cool neutral tones, and equally at home in traditional, transitional, or formal contemporary settings.

Nain 6 LA Rugs

Nain is a city in Isfahan Province in central Iran that became one of Persia's most respected fine rug weaving centers during the twentieth century. The workshops of Nain built their reputation entirely on technical excellence and knot density, and the grading system used there reflects this commitment to precision. The 6La grade indicates a six-ply yarn, one of the finer constructions in Nain output, producing a pile that is compact, highly detailed, and long-wearing. At 500 to 600 KPSI, this runner places in the upper tier of Nain production, where the fineness of the wool and silk pile allows for motif outlines and interior details that are simply not achievable at lower knot counts. The wool and silk combination is characteristic of premium Nain output, with the silk content adding visual luminosity and softness of definition to the arabesque and floral work throughout. The cotton foundation provides excellent dimensional stability across the full length of the runner and ensures the piece lies flat with consistent drape. The backside reveals a tightly packed, even knot structure fully consistent with skilled Nain craftsmanship, and the cotton fringe at both ends is clean and intact.