A PERSIAN 'RASHTI DUZI' TEXTILE Rasht, Iran, late 19th century

A PERSIAN 'RASHTI DUZI' TEXTILE
Rasht, Iran, late 19th century

A long strip of red wool felt, embroidered in silk with delicate floral motifs and roundels, predominantly in blue, yellow and white, lined at the back.

247cm x 196.5cm

Rashti-doozi (or duzi, literaly embroidery) is a traditional embroidery technique originating in Rasht, in Gilan, northern Iran. Characterised primarily by chain-stitch embroidery worked with coloured silk threads and a small hook, it was traditionally executed on a woollen felt ground, often in red, green, blue or black. Its decorative vocabulary is predominantly floral and foliate, featuring trees, flowers, leaves and scrolling stems, sometimes accompanied by birds. The technique is documented at least from the Safavid period, when Rasht was known to have supplied the Safavid court at Ardabil. It reached particular refinement in the nineteenth century, when richly embroidered textiles became an important regional production.