Detailed Product Description

The western trade designation Laver is an incorrectform of the name Ravar, the weaving centre situated northeast ofKerman, adjacent to the Lut desert. Ravar has long been the origin ofsome of the finest of Kerman products. The historical explanationappears to be that during the wars of the late 19th century much ofKerman was destroyed and a large part of the population, among themmany carpet weavers, fled to Ravar. Although the weavings arecharacteristic of Kerman, the high quality rugs produced in Ravar soongained recognition and the workshops founded their own tradition.

Although incorrect, the term Laver has become so firmly entrenchedin the trade that it has even been used as a designation for highquality products of other provenances.

This 1940 Laver-Kerman example has a pastel red field, with adiamond-shaped central medallion surrounded by four peacocks. The restof the field is decorated with birds in a lovely garden of jasmine,cypresses, rosettes and palmettes. The smokey rose main border detainswhite and beige and sky blue palmettes containing various forms andvegetal devices. This beautiful border frames the entire field of theLaver-Kerman. The four guard borders of peach, orange, blue and creamaccentuate this design with the pattern of small white jasmines. Itsdesign develops with fluent control and imaginative skill. This carpetis commissioned by Mr Kaltoul, which is written in the Persian languageat the top-centre of the border in one cartouche.