In Persian, Derakhshandeh means radiant, gleaming or luminous; the name refers to the sheen of silk and the way it reflects light, setting this silk version apart from the woollen Derakhshan examples. The Derakhshandeh Carpet is a reinterpretation of motifs from Safavid-period carpets. Against its brown ground, blossoms and scrolling branches appear in shades of blue and green, while the olive border completes the ordered composition of this silk-woven piece.
| Dimensions | 147 × 100 cm |
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The Derakhshandeh Carpet has been designed through a reinterpretation of motifs found in Safavid-period carpets. Arabesque branches and delicate blossoms are arranged symmetrically on either side of the central axis against a dark brown ground. Light blue and green appear among warm earthy tones, while an olive border with repeating vegetal motifs encloses the field. The sheen of silk, together with this palette, is the reason the name Derakhshandeh was chosen for this work.
This design has also been woven in three other versions: the Derakhshandeh Polonaise, in silk; Derakhshan, with a cream ground and woven in wool; and a copper-toned Derakhshan, also woven in wool. In the naming of this group, Derakhshandeh has been reserved for the silk versions and Derakhshan for the woollen ones, so that the difference in the way light appears on these two fibres may be clearly distinguished.
This carpet was woven in Heriz and measures 147 × 100 cm.
