Antique Persian Rashti Embroidery Textile, Country of Origin: Persia, Circa Date: Early 20th Century – This breathtaking piece is a delightful piece of Rashti Embroidery from the early 20th century. This piece uses a special technique known as “Gulab-Duzi”, also known as the chain stitch. Rasht was known to have supplied the Safavid court with embroidery pieces since the 16th century. This beautiful piece uses the same technique and a design that is similar to those found throughout the history of this embroidery technique.
Rashti embroidery is worked on felted wool that is often remnants from making military uniforms. They are often pieced together, with the outer bands often consisting of different colors of ground fabric, but in this case, the borders appear to be a single fabric. The designs are traced onto the fabric with chalk.
The entire design is worked in a chain stitch using silk that has been twisted using crochet hooks. One point to note is that today we typically think of embroidery as women’s work, but all of the work created was done by men in professional workshops.
One thing that makes Rashti embroidery stand out is the bold, vibrant color palette. Another element that gives them charm is the ancient traditions and symbols that you find in them. This magnificent piece features a delicate floral design in the field surrounded by a border with the “boteh” or paisley design. This symbol goes back to ancient times and represents the “seed of life” or eternal flame that was kept in Zoroastrian temples. This symbol would later become more complex and evolve into what we know today as the paisley.
This piece is a perfect size for use as a table covering or to be mounted and hung on a wall. Its brilliant colors and beautiful design make it perfect for a traditional or tribal-inspired room design. In a modern or transitional space, it will add contrast and a bold character, making it a perfect addition to your design.
