3'4" x 5' Persian Qum Pure Silk Rug | Signed Amir Naghash | 800 KPSI

This exceptional hand-knotted Persian Qum rug measures 3'4" x 5' and is woven entirely from pure silk in both its foundation and pile, placing it among the most technically demanding and prestigious constructions in the world of Oriental rugs. It bears the woven signature of Amir Naghash, a respected Qum workshop name, confirmed in the Persian script cartouche woven into the upper border. At approximately 800 knots per square inch, this rug achieves a level of drawing precision and motif clarity that is simply not possible at lower densities, and the silk-on-silk construction gives the surface a characteristic luminous sheen that shifts in intensity as viewing angles change. The rug is in excellent condition and has never been used, retaining full pile depth and original luster.

Design and Motifs

The design is centered on a large, complex star-form medallion occupying the central third of the rose pink field. The medallion is built from concentric rings of interlocking arabesque scrollwork, pointed leaf forms, and fine floral details rendered in deep navy blue and warm ivory, radiating outward from a small rosette center. Pendant finials extend above and below the medallion, anchoring it within the surrounding field composition. The field itself is covered with an all-over continuous lattice of curling ivory vines, small palmette heads, split-leaf arabesques, and fine spiral tendrils that fill every inch of the rose ground without interrupting the visual hierarchy of the central medallion. The border system is substantial: the wide main border has a deep navy blue ground carrying a dense continuous scrolling floral vine in ivory, golden yellow, and soft coral, creating a rich and visually complex frame. Narrow guard stripes in olive gold enclose the main border on both sides. A thin salmon-pink selvedge stripe runs along the outermost edge. The corners are fully mitered with articulated floral compositions that continue the border design seamlessly.

Colors and Placement

The central field is a warm, dusty rose pink, a soft and romantic tone that sits between blush and terracotta without leaning strongly toward either. It is rich enough to read as a proper ground color from a distance while remaining warm and inviting at close range. The all-over ivory floral lattice covering this ground is rendered in a warm cream that contrasts well against the rose without creating a harsh edge, giving the field an overall soft, luminous quality. The central medallion introduces deep navy blue as its dominant ground color, creating a bold tonal shift at the center of the composition. Within the medallion, ivory, golden yellow, and warm cream motifs glow against the dark navy, drawing the eye inward with strong contrast. Soft coral and salmon tones appear selectively within the medallion scrollwork and as accents in the floral details of the border, adding warmth and variation. Golden yellow threads through the field arabesque as a secondary accent and is the primary outlining color in the main border's floral vine. Olive gold appears in the guard stripes, giving the border system a slightly antiqued, rich quality. The overall palette is warm, romantic, and richly layered, combining the softness of rose and ivory with the depth of navy and the warmth of gold in a combination that works across a wide range of interior styles.

Qum Silk Rugs

Qum is a city in central Iran that emerged as one of the world's premier fine silk rug weaving centers during the twentieth century, building its reputation entirely on technical excellence and the exclusive use of pure silk. The silk warp-and-weft foundation provides the structural precision required to support knot densities at this level, while the silk pile delivers the reflective quality that causes colors to shift and intensify as light crosses the surface from different angles. At approximately 800 KPSI, this rug places at the very top of even fine Qum production, where the fineness of the yarn allows motif outlines and interior details to be rendered at a level of clarity that approaches illustration. The woven signature of Amir Naghash in the upper border cartouche provides direct workshop provenance and confirms authentic Qum origin, making this piece a genuine collector and investment grade example of one of the finest rug-weaving traditions in the world.