Kirman designs are the largest family in Karastan's Original Collection, and they include its most famous rug, the #717 Multicolor Panel Kirman. They take their name from Kerman (often spelled Kirman), the city in southeastern Iran celebrated for graceful floral rugs and a broad, refined palette. Karastan's Kirmans range from rich red medallion rugs to soft ivory and pastel florals, and they remain among the most popular Karastans with collectors and decorators alike.
| Collection | Original Collection (700 Series) |
|---|---|
| Inspired by | Persian Kerman (Kirman) rugs |
| Style | Curvilinear floral designs; medallion, panel and allover layouts |
| Best known | #717 Multicolor Panel Kirman; #762 Red Medallion Kirman |
| Colorways | Red, ivory, pastel ivory, green and multicolor |
The Kirman designs
| Number | Design | Character |
|---|---|---|
| #717 | Multicolor Panel Kirman | Compartment design in about 50 colors |
| #718 | Medallion Kirman | Central medallion design |
| #742 | Floral Kirman | Floral design |
| #753 | Green Medallion Kirman | Medallion design with green tones |
| #756 | Red Kirman Medallion | Red medallion design |
| #759 | Ivory Kirman | Floral design on an ivory field |
| #762 | Red Medallion Kirman | Medallion on a red field |
| #781 | Kirman | Kirman design |
| #784 | Pastel Ivory Kirman | Soft pastels on ivory |
| #788 | Ivory Kirman | Ivory field with floral design |
#717 Multicolor Panel Kirman
The best known of all Karastans, introduced in 1937. Its field is divided into a lattice of small compartments, each filled with floral motifs in a wide range of colors. It has its own entry: Karastan #717 Multicolor Panel Kirman.
Red medallion Kirmans
The #762 Red Medallion Kirman is the classic red Karastan: a central medallion on a red field, framed by floral borders. It suits traditional living and dining rooms and has long been one of the most requested Karastan patterns. The #756 is a related red medallion design, and the #718 Medallion Kirman and #753 Green Medallion Kirman offer variations on the same medallion layout. See Medallion Designs.
Ivory and pastel Kirmans
The ivory Kirmans, #788 and #759, set floral designs on a light ivory field, giving a softer, brighter look that suits lighter rooms. The #784 Pastel Ivory Kirman goes further, with gentle pastel tones on ivory. The #742 Floral Kirman belongs to the same graceful floral tradition. These lighter designs show the refined, garden-like quality of Persian Kerman rugs particularly well.
The Persian Kerman connection
Kerman has been a center of fine weaving for centuries, known for curvilinear floral designs, medallion and garden layouts, and an unusually wide range of colors, including soft pastels. Those qualities made Kerman a natural model for Karastan, whose looms could weave many colors. See Kerman Rugs.
