Isfahan became the capital of the Safavids during the reign of Shah Abbas I the Great (1587 to 1629). This sumptuous, elegant city quickly gained an unparalleled reputation beyond the borders. European travellers of the time described it as a marvel of architecture and artistic refinement.
To this day, the remains of the Safavid capital bear witness to past splendours, and a Persian saying recalls the importance and beauty of this city: Esfahan nesf-e-djahan, which is equivalent to saying Isfahan, half of the world.
Shah Abbas deported the entire population of the city of Djulfa (on the Caucasian border in the north of the kingdom). He decided they should settle near his new capital because this population of craftsmen would work in the royal factories that were to produce rugs unique in the world for their finesse and the quality of their wools. They would be presents that emissaries and ambassadors were to take with them in their gift-laden caravans to seek the favours of the western political powers of the time. These carpets were intended to bear witness to the grandeur of the empire, the benevolence of the Shah and the refinement of Persian culture, which was all too little known.
In 1722, a violent and devastating Afghan invasion put an end to the Safavid reign. It was also the end of the production of these dream carpets. It was not until the end of the 19th century, but mostly around 1920, that workshops resumed the activities of yesteryear. Despite a two-century hiatus, Isfahan has miraculously established itself again as one of the most remarkable producers of modern Persian carpets. A profusion of elaborate designs with plant, animal and human figures set out to conquer the interiors of the West.