Antique Kashan rugs are among the very finest rugs and carpets. Kashan was a center of silk production since Safavid times and some of the best classical Persian silk rugs have been attributed to Kashan. At the end of the nineteenth century, the weavers there began to produce high-quality rugs and carpets as well, which continued the high standards of design and technique established in the classical era. The very best antique Kashan rugs are known as Motashem Kashan. They often have medallion designs, but all-over Kashan carpets are not uncommon. The palette can be deep and rich in the classical tradition, or it can utilize softer hues appropriate to modern decor. Though Kashan is now removed from the commercial trade route of Persia, it used to be the largest city in the northwest, and virtually all traffic between Esfahn and the east passed through it. Because of this important location, Kashan became a popular stop on a bustling trade route during the Safavid Era. In modern times, nearby mountain ranges prohibit trucks from traveling the route that caravans had so often ventured. During this era in which carpet weaving flourished in Persia, Kashan developed a reputation as one of the finest weaving centers of the East.
