Mohammad Jamshidi | A legend in the Persian carpet world and his historic achievements

A legend built on a commitment to 100% silk

We will introduce the story of Mohammad Jamshidi, a master who is indispensable when talking about the silk carpet world of Qom.

Persian carpets are made of 100% silk and boast a beautiful luster and intricacy. What kind of life did the man who made these carpets known to the world lead, and what dreams did he have as he weaved them?

Let's take a look at his turbulent life and the essence of the carpets he creates!

Early childhood: He did not know his father and grew up watching his mother weave carpets.

Mohammad Jamshidi lost his father before he was born and grew up in a family where his mother made a living by weaving hand-woven carpets. He says that from the time he was old enough to understand, the house was always filled with the sounds of "thread" and "looms."

Nowadays, silk is called the "queen of fibers," but at the time, it was simply a means to support one's family. The harsh reality was the polar opposite of the glamorous image. However, it was this environment that inspired him to develop an interest in weaving and the basic techniques.

By watching my mother, I naturally learned how to handle thread, the tricks of weaving, and how to put together designs.

At the age of 12, he dropped out of fourth grade of primary school and decided to work to help support his family.

From this point on, the young Mohammad's fate began to change dramatically.

Meeting Hadji Ebrahim Montazeri during his apprenticeship

The young boy Mohammad became an apprentice to Haji Ebrahim Montazeri, a carpet merchant in Qum.

I spent every day covered in carpet threads from morning till night.

In any case, silk requires careful handling; if a thread breaks, it must be redone, and even the slightest stain cannot be overlooked.

In this tense environment, his sharp powers of observation and exceptional concentration are honed.

This period of training was a great help in establishing the Jamshidi brand.

They were thoroughly trained in the basics, including the key elements of craftsmanship, such as precision of knots, color balance, and how to put together patterns.

Nowadays, machine-woven carpets are on the rise, but back then, of course, they were all made by hand, and the craftsmanship relied on the sense of touch.

He became independent at the age of 18 and his first sales were 50 million tomans!

The young Mohammad took the plunge and became independent at the tender age of 18. When he sold a carpet he had finished with his own hands for 50 tomans, a large amount at the time, he was overwhelmed with surprise and joy.

"If we keep going like this, we'll definitely find a way."

Convinced of this, he decided to use this small success as a springboard to further expand his business.

The continued pursuit of the highest quality using 100% silk led to the birth of the "Jamshidi Kum" brand.

The Birth of Jamshidi Qum: Silk Carpets that Amaze the World

Shortly after independence, Mohammad launched his own company, the Jamshidi Silk Carpets. Making the most of the characteristics of Qom silk, he created smooth, lustrous carpets with intricate designs that look like paintings.

• High density of knots: millions of knots packed into one square meter
• Delicate use of color: Intricate patterns that take advantage of the excellent coloring that silk offers
• Original design: A pictorial layout based on the imagery seen in dreams, which will be described later.

These products attracted buyers from all over the world and quickly established their status as "premium carpets."

It first attracted attention from wealthy Iranians in the local areas of Qum and Tehran, and then its popularity spread to Europe and Asian countries.

Legendary high-value transaction: the final piece went for 15 billion tomans!

It was his "last work" that made Mohammad Jamshidi's name known all over the world. The story of its purchase by a Japanese buyer for the sky-high price of about 15 billion tomans (!) became big news in the carpet industry. Any work of art is ultimately valued by the "values ​​of the beholder," but the fact that it fetches such a large amount of money is proof of its extraordinary artistic quality and rarity.

Numerous social contributions Limited to 2 pieces

Mohammad Jamshidi has a career spanning more than 66 years, but he has not been just a businessman. In fact, there are two special carpets that were presented to him.

1. Hazrat Ruqayyah's Tomb in Syria
2. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

The carpets donated to these two locations are highly regarded not only for their artistic value, but also for their historical and cultural significance. It could be said that these two pieces are a condensed version of the techniques and passion he cultivated throughout his life.

The man who designs in his dreams - "I don't believe in computers"

Mohammad Jamshidi used to say,

"I see carpet designs in my dreams and then I create them in my mind."

In recent years, the number of carpet studios that use computer graphics to create designs has increased, but he has consistently stuck to a hand-drawn style. He does not reject the latest technology, but rather believes that "intuition and imagination are essential to give form to one's worldview."

The flow and color of each individual thread greatly influences the final product of 100% silk fabric. The subtle nuances that cannot be captured by a computer are precisely imagined on the canvas in one's mind, and then realized at one's fingertips - this could be said to be the essence of Jamshidi.

Summary Tradition, innovation, and the future of silk

Mohammad Jamshidi was born into difficult circumstances, including the death of his father and poverty, but he has carved out his own destiny like reeling in a silk thread.

His story teaches us the profound possibilities of 100% silk Persian carpets. They are not just expensive items, but works of art that contain history, culture, and the soul of the weaver. This piece, truly worthy of being called the "Queen of Fibers," continues to fascinate people all over the world.

Jamshidi's passion is still passed down to many artisans today, and is a great light that illuminates the future of Persian carpets. If you have the opportunity to pick up a silk carpet, try to think about the "story" and "the artisan's thoughts" hidden behind it. You will surely find new value in it as an art piece.

Well, that's all for now. Thank you for reading to the end!

We will continue to share the fascinating stories and fascinating anecdotes about 100% silk Persian carpets, so please look forward to it.