“Salar”

This project was born from the belief in creating a new genre — not only as a continuation of the Jafarnejad collection, which had already reached a level of maturity and valuable achievement, but as a renewed definition within authentic, professional carpet weaving itself.

The idea emerged from the artistic vision and strategic direction of Ashkiyoun’s management, marketing team, and collaborating artists. It was an effort beyond a conventional project — an attempt to connect ancestral heritage with a contemporary perspective and way of living. We are a generation rooted in history, yet courageous enough to move beyond it.

The goal was to create works within a distinctive collection — pieces that would stand apart in scale, quality, knot density, design, and style. The true essence of this project lies in the concept of generational continuity: where a father begins the weaving and, upon retirement, the son continues the path; or where a father initiates a design and the son completes it.

As a symbolic gesture within this collection, the largest carpet was selected — a masterpiece of more than 75 million knots, meticulously woven from pure silk. Its warp, weft, and pile are all made from the finest silk available. The weaving process extended over several years — a long journey embodying patience, dedication, and generational continuity.

The design of the carpet was created by one of the most distinguished masters of design, Master Mahmoudian — a graduate of the University of Florence in Italy in the field of restoration of historical artworks, and formerly a student of Fine Arts at the University of Isfahan during the Pahlavi era. After his retirement, the final two-thirds of the design were completed by his son, Aref Mahmoudian, who is himself a university professor specializing in carpet studies.

This work, along with the other pieces defined within this project as a distinct genre, each possesses its own unique identity and holds the potential for inclusion in the National Museum of Iran. However, due to circumstances that arose during the journey and considering the present conditions, the Ashkiyoun team decided to preserve this carpet as part of its internal collection outside of Iran — a reference piece representing the peak of the brand’s artistic, technical, and human vision.

In the end, the carpet was named “Salar” in honor of the journey it undertook and the hand that tied its final knot — a work that narrates the connection between time, generations, and art within Ashkiyoun.