Rare Signed Habibian Persian Nain 6La Wool and Silk Rug in a Sought-After 8'7" x 12'2" SIze

This is a genuine hand-knotted Persian Nain rug in the prestigious 6La grade, woven in the city of Nain in central Iran and signed by the legendary Habibian master workshop, the most celebrated name in the entire history of Nain weaving. What sets this rug apart from virtually every other Nain on the market is a combination of three elements that rarely come together in a single piece. First, it carries an authenticated Habibian signature woven directly into the rug during original production. Second, the weave is an exceptional 500 to 550 KPSI, a level of fineness reserved for only the top tier of 6La Nain production. Third, the size of 8'7 x 12'2 is genuinely rare. Most Habibian 6La rugs were woven in smaller sizes, typically around 8 x 11, and it is very unusual to find one this close to a full 9 x 12 format. This rug has never been used and is in pristine excellent condition.

Why the Habibian Signature Matters and How This One Is Verified Authentic

The Habibian family, is widely credited with elevating Nain from a provincial weaving town to one of the most respected names in twentieth century Persian rug production. Because a genuine Habibian rug commands a substantial premium over a standard Nain, the market has long been troubled by fake Habibian signatures added to ordinary rugs after the fact, either embroidered on the surface or stitched into the back. This is precisely why the close-up photograph of the back of the signature is so important. In that photograph you can see that the signature is woven knot by knot into the original foundation of the rug, with the same warp and weft structure as the surrounding field. The back of the signature matches the back of the rug, proving that the Habibian name was placed at the loom during weaving and not added later. This is the gold standard of Habibian authentication and is what separates a true signed Habibian from a forged one.

Classic Nain Composition With Exceptional Drawing and Silk Highlights

The rug is laid out in the most recognizable Nain composition: a large oval medallion floats at the center of a deep navy field, surrounded by a dense allover pattern of curling vines, palmettes, rosettes, and stylized flowers in the Shah Abbas tradition. The central medallion is extraordinary. It is built around an eight pointed star of sky blue silk radiating outward, set on a bed of ivory filled with finely drawn florals, framed by a second ring of ivory and sky blue cartouches. Small pendants extend from each end of the medallion. Across the field, the silk pile catches the light in the vines and flower centers, producing the characteristic subtle sheen that separates a true wool and silk Nain from a wool only weave. The ivory main border is filled with palmettes and blossoms, flanked by narrow camel and sky blue guard bands, all drawn with the crisp precision that only a master workshop at 500 plus KPSI can produce.

A Sophisticated Navy and Ivory Palette With Fine Accent Tones

The color story is classic formal Nain Habibian. The field is a deep navy that reads almost black in low light and reveals its indigo depth under direct illumination. Against this navy, the ivory of the medallion reserves, the border, and the outlining vines produces strong contrast and brightness. A warm camel tone frames the field as an inner guard surround, and a distinctive sky blue recurs in the medallion and through the floral motifs as a second accent color. Threaded into the flowers you will also find soft olive green, warm brown, burgundy, touches of tan, and a very fine ivory drawing line that outlines nearly every motif in the rug. The overall palette is formal, grounded, and refined, ideal for traditional living rooms, dining rooms, master bedrooms, formal offices, libraries, and luxury hospitality spaces.

Why Rugs of This Size and Quality Are Difficult to Find

Most Habibian 6La rugs were produced in smaller formats, typically scatter sizes up to around 8 x 11, because the extreme fineness of the weave at 500 to 550 KPSI meant that each rug took years of continuous work on the loom to complete. Scaling that knot density up to an 8'7 x 12'2 format dramatically increases both the labor and the cost, which is precisely why rugs at this size from the Habibian workshop are so rarely offered. Combined with the fact that this piece has never been used and remains in excellent condition, and the fact that the signature has been verified authentic through the back-of-signature weave, this is exactly the kind of Persian rug that is becoming harder to source in the current market. For a buyer looking for a statement Nain for a formal room, a collector searching for a verified signed Habibian in a usable large size, or an investor seeking a top tier Persian rug with authenticated provenance, this is a genuinely rare opportunity.