The town of Kashan, which lies between Qum and Isfahan has been famous for its outstanding handicrafts for almost 800 years and in the late 1530's Kashan's fame as a textile centre led to the commissioning of the master-weaver Maqsud by Shah Tahmasp to produce one of the greatest Persian carpets of all time, the Ardebil carpet.

Renowned for the discreet richness of colouring and subtle, elegant central medallions reflected in the corners, these early designs are still being made today and represent some of the most popular Persian carpets of the 20th Century and beyond.