Nain is a small desert town in central Iran, east of Isfahan, that became one of the country's most respected weaving centers in the 20th century. Nain rugs are fine city rugs with a distinctive look: ivory and beige grounds with navy and sky blue, delicate floral designs outlined in silk, and a short, dense pile. They are graded in la, a local measure of fineness found on no other Persian rug.
| Origin | Nain and nearby villages, Isfahan province, central Iran |
|---|---|
| Tradition | City (workshop) rugs |
| Knot | Asymmetric (Persian) |
| Materials | Kork wool with silk highlights on a cotton or silk foundation |
| Grading | In la: 4 la (finest), 6 la, 9 la |
| Typical colors | Ivory, beige, navy, sky blue |
| Typical design | Floral medallion with arabesques and Shah Abbasi palmettes |
History
For centuries Nain was known not for rugs but for the fine woolen cloth used to make the aba, the traditional cloak. When demand for that cloth fell in the early 20th century, the town's skilled weavers and spinners turned to carpets, from around the 1930s. Their experience with very fine wool gave Nain rugs their character from the start, and within a few decades Nain had a reputation for some of the finest wool rugs in Iran. Leading workshops, such as Habibian, signed their best pieces.
The Nain look
Most Nains have a central medallion, often a round or star-shaped rosette, surrounded by an intricate field of scrolling vines, arabesques and Shah Abbasi palmettes, with matching corners. The palette is restrained: ivory or beige grounds with navy and light blue, sometimes touches of green, gold or rust. The designs are outlined in ivory silk, which gives the rug a soft shimmer and makes the drawing look especially crisp. All-over, tree-of-life and pictorial Nains are also woven.
The la grades
Nain rugs are described by la (sometimes written "lah"), which refers to the number of strands spun together to make each warp thread. Fewer strands mean a thinner warp, which allows more knots in the same space. So a lower number means a finer rug:
- 4 la: the finest grade, often with a silk foundation and a very high knot count.
- 6 la: very fine, and the most widely sought-after grade.
- 9 la: fine, and the most common grade.
The la is a guide to fineness, not a complete measure of quality. Wool, color, drawing and condition matter just as much. See Knots and Knot Density.
How to recognize a Nain
- Ivory or beige field with navy and blue as the main colors.
- Silk outlining around motifs, visible as a soft sheen.
- Very fine, even knotting and a short, flat pile.
- Kork wool with a soft, dry feel.
Nain and Isfahan
Nain and Isfahan rugs share many designs and both are very fine. Nains lean toward ivory, beige and blue with silk outlining; Isfahans often have stronger color and more often a silk foundation. Nain designs are also widely woven elsewhere, including in Pakistan and China, so a "Nain design" rug is not necessarily a Persian Nain. See Indo-Persian, Sino-Persian and Pak-Persian Rugs.
