Two Sabbath Tablecloths, Isfahan, Iran, early 20th century

Two Sabbath Tablecloths, Isfahan, Iran, early 20th century

These two decorative Sabbath and festival tablecloths were created in Isfahan, a city in Iran on the route from Tehran to the Persian Gulf. The Jewish settlement in Isfahan is one of the oldest in Persia; however, when the Qajar Dynasty (1794-1925) transferred the capital of Persia to Tehran, Isfahan and its Jewish population lost much of their cultural and political prominence. To counter the decline in the community, in 1901 the Alliance Israélite Universelle established a Jewish school in Isfahan. The Jewish population was estimated at about 6,000 at the beginning of the twentieth century, when these festive printed cotton cloths were created.

Physical Description

Each tablecloth measures about 55 x 55 in.