Vintage Persian Enjelas Rug with All-Over Herati Design in Ruby Red, c.1980s

From the Zagros mountains of western Iran, in the heart of the ancient Hamadan weaving district, comes this exceptional vintage Persian rug.

It was hand-knotted not in a grand city workshop, but in the small village of Enjelas — a community long celebrated by connoisseurs for producing textiles of superior quality and character. This piece is a testament to the enduring power of village artistry, a tradition that carries the grand legacy of Persian design in its very threads.

The artistic DNA of this rug traces its lineage directly to the opulent court manufactories of the 16th-century Safavid Empire, where the classical language of Persian art was perfected. The ceaseless, all-over pattern that animates the field is the famed Herati motif, a rhythmic dance of floral diamonds and sickle-shaped leaves that evokes the image of fish swimming in a celestial pond. This ancient symbol of life and good fortune is rendered here in brilliant shades of indigo, sapphire, and ivory against a breathtaking field of rich ruby red. This foundational colour, traditionally achieved with dyes from the madder root, is deeply symbolic in Persian culture, signifying passion, wealth, and vitality.   

What elevates this piece from a beautiful textile to a work of specific regional art is its unique composition. The weavers of Enjelas were masters of a distinct design grammar, choosing to forgo the central medallion common in other regions. Instead, they framed the infinite repetition of the Herati field with strong, grounding triangular corner pieces, or lachaks. This sophisticated choice creates a dynamic tension between the meditative and the architectural, lending the rug a powerful and balanced presence.

Hand-knotted from hand-spun, high-mountain wool on a sturdy cotton foundation, this rug was built to last for generations. Its dense, lustrous pile has acquired a soft patina over the decades, a character that only time can bestow. More than a floor covering, this is a piece of tangible history — a story of place, tradition, and artistry woven into a durable and timeless form.

Creator: Enjelas Village Weaver 

Place of Origin: Enjelas, Hamadan Province, Iran. Circa 1980s

Materials and Techniques: Hand-Knotted, Hand-Spun Wool Pile on Cotton Foundation

Dimensions: Width: 200 cm Length: 294 cm 

Condition: Excellent vintage condition. The rug has been professionally cleaned and is floor-ready. It exhibits very minor wear and character consistent with its age and history, with a full, even pile and vibrant colouration.

Styling Recommendations

The remarkable versatility of this Enjelas rug allows it to anchor a multitude of interior styles. Its deep colour palette and historical gravitas make it a natural foundation for a room with traditional antiques and rich textures. Simultaneously, its strong geometric quality and all-over pattern provide a bold, characterful counterpoint in a minimalist or contemporary setting, creating a sophisticated dialogue between the past and the present. It is an investment piece that will enrich any space it inhabits.