Persian Collage
Persian Collage was a unique collection of artworks created from carefully selected fragments of genuine old and antique Persian carpets and rugs.
The idea came to the Nishaburis in 2006. After decades in the wholesale carpet business, they had accumulated a small collection of beautiful rugs that had been badly damaged and could no longer be used in their original form. One could never simply ignore or write off a genuine Persian carpet, no matter how damaged. As an experiment, the finest surviving sections of a few rugs were removed and sewn together. The result was a distinctive patchwork carpet that could once again be used and enjoyed.
Over the following years, the Nishaburis continued to develop and perfect the idea. Persian Collage brought tradition and modernity together, preserving the colours, patterns, craftsmanship and memories of older Persian weavings while presenting them in a contemporary form suited to modern interiors. At its height, the collection reached customers in more than 35 countries.
Drawing on a family history in the carpet business since 1750 and an extensive network of weavers, dealers and experts throughout Iran, the Nishaburis sourced old and antique carpets even when they were partially damaged or beyond normal use. The finest surviving sections were carefully selected and sent to their main production base in Tehran.
The carpets were sorted, washed and restored. Where the composition required it, some were over-dyed to create greater harmony between fragments of different origins and ages. The designers then arranged and combined the pieces according to their colours, patterns, textures and character under the supervision of the Nishaburis.
Each Persian Collage brought together fragments from several different weaving traditions. Because every element came from a handmade carpet, no two compositions could ever be identical. Every Persian Collage was therefore a unique work of art, carrying within it the histories of several rugs while beginning an entirely new life of its own.
Although artistic in appearance, Persian Collage was made to be used. Considerable care went into its construction and finishing so that it could serve as a practical and lasting floor covering. The pieces were washable and could be professionally cleaned and repaired when required.
Persian Collage was both preservation and reinvention: it saved what remained beautiful in damaged Persian carpets and transformed it into something original, contemporary and alive. Although it is no longer in production, the collection remains an important part of the Nishaburis’ creative history.
