The Seirafian Family
Founded in 1940, the Seirafian family workshops have been producing Isfahan carpets of the highest grade across four generations. The name has established itself as arguably the most important, valuable, and sought-after in the field of fine Isfahan carpets.
The information in this article was gathered in close exchange with several third- and fourth-generation members of the Seirafian family, including Mehran Seirafian, Karim Seirafian, Farzad Seirafian, Mahmoud Seirafian, and Amir Seirafian.
Table of Contents
The Founder Reza Seirafian
Before opening the legendary Seirafian workshop in 1940, Haj Agha Reza Seirafian (1881–1974) had already spent decades producing and trading carpets alongside his main profession as a banker.
His carpets carry the classic Seirafian bottom signature, reading “Baft Iran Esfahan Seirafian” in Arabic script. In most cases, the signature features light yellow decoration, though some examples appear on plain white or blue-decorated backgrounds.
Many of his designs were continued by later generations. This, together with the fact that his signature does not include his first name, makes it very difficult to clearly distinguish his works from those of other family members. In most cases, confirmation requires the opinion of a well-trained Seirafian specialist or a family member.
Reza Seirafian had seven sons, all of whom entered the carpet business and later established their own workshops. From oldest to youngest: Mohammad-Ali, Mohammad, Sadegh, Ahmad, Ali, Hossein, and Hassan. His daughters, Fakhr Alzaman and Nahid, were also involved in carpet production and produced carpets under the Seirafian name.
Original works by Haj Agha Reza Seirafian are highly sought after among collectors and rank among the most valuable Seirafian carpets.
Mohammad Seirafian
Mohammad (born 1922), Haj Agha Reza’s second son, entered the carpet business in 1940 and was the first of the brothers to do so. From the beginning, he worked independently, sourcing wool, dyes, and designs from the same suppliers as his father. He continued producing carpets for an extraordinary 81 years, until his passing in 2021.
He is now regarded as one of the most important 20th-century masters of fine carpet production. His most famous work is a monumental carpet produced for and donated to the United Nations. Alongside his father’s works, Mohammad Seirafian carpets rank among the most valuable within the family, especially his pictorial and scenic designs such as the famous “Gate of Heaven”, often regarded as the holy grail of Seirafian carpets.
Early works by Mohammad Seirafian usually carry only the classic Seirafian bottom signature. Later, he began adding a second signature with his first name at the top of the carpet.
Mohammad Seirafian also published a well-known book on Seirafian carpets, featuring a comprehensive catalogue of his own works alongside selected examples by other family members. Carpets illustrated in this book are particularly sought after among collectors.
Sadegh Seirafian
Sadegh, the third-oldest brother, was the second to enter the carpet business after Mohammad in the early 1940s. He continued producing carpets until his passing in 2005. Over the course of his long career, he produced an impressive number of pieces, likely more than any other member of the family. His range of designs is particularly broad, from classic medallion and all-over patterns to more modern designs, sceneries, and highly unique pictorials.
His signature is easy to distinguish, as it includes his first name. His earlier signature, used until around the 1970s, reads “Dastur Iran Esfahan Seirafian”, while his later signature reads “Farsh Iran Isfahan Seirafian”. “Dastur” (دستور) can be understood as “order”, while “Farsh” (فرش) simply means “carpet”. Many of his later signatures also include additional English lettering.
Due to the popularity of his carpets, his signature was frequently copied and forged. In many cases, consulting a family member or a well-trained expert is advisable to confirm authenticity.
Carpets by Sadegh Seirafian are highly sought after among collectors, particularly his finer and more unusual works. Some of his pictorial designs, as well as one of his hunting scene compositions, are considered among the best of their kind.
Mohammad-Ali Seirafian
Mohammad-Ali, the oldest brother, entered the carpet business in the early 1940s and continued producing carpets until his passing in 2011 at the age of 92. Throughout his career, he focused on a range of classical designs, never compromising on quality. His carpets are consistently finely woven, with knot counts well above 10 knots per centimeter and very sharp drawing.
Compared to some of his brothers, such as Sadegh or Mohammad Seirafian, he produced fewer carpets, which makes his works relatively rare on the market.
While his signature evolved over time, it always includes a distinctive bottom signature with his full name or corresponding initials.
Mohammad-Ali Seirafian focused on classical designs, mostly medallion compositions. Only very few pictorial or scenic carpets by him are known. A defining characteristic of his work is the very selective use of dyes. His palettes are calm and restrained, built around a limited number of classic, harmonious colors.
His carpets are rare and sought after, especially among collectors who appreciate more traditional, old-school Isfahan pieces.
Ahmad Seirafian
Ahmad, the fourth brother, continued the family legacy of producing carpets of the highest grade. His designs range from outstanding medallion carpets, some inherited from his father Agha Reza, to directional vase designs, as well as pictorial and landscape compositions. Both his landscape carpets and certain medallion designs are considered among the best of their kind. Some of his works were even commissioned by Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.
Ahmad worked closely with his younger brother Ali Seirafian, and many carpets can be attributed to their joint production.
His carpets typically carry the classic Seirafian bottom signature, often set on a light blue decorated background, sometimes with small English lettering within the white part of the Iranian flag. In later works, he occasionally added a top signature with his first name, alongside a bottom signature featuring a pistachio green background, a color that became increasingly characteristic of his work towards the end of his career.
Ali Seirafian
Ali, the fifth brother, who sadly passed away in late February 2026, continued producing fine Isfahan carpets until very recently. He was particularly known for his excellent hunting scene carpets, but his work also includes classic medallion compositions, directional vase designs, and pictorials. Many of his carpets were produced in close collaboration with his older brother Ahmad.
Early carpets by Ali Seirafian, especially those made before the Iranian Revolution in 1979, are often woven with exceptionally soft Manchester wool, arguably the finest wool ever used in carpet production. Some of the softest Seirafian carpets I have handled were early works by Ali.
His earlier pieces typically carry only the classic Seirafian bottom signature, most often on a blue decorated background, sometimes red, occasionally with additional English lettering in the white part of the flag. In his later productions, he added a top signature with his full name in English letters.
Hossein Seirafian
Hossein, the sixth brother, unfortunately passed away in 1986 at a relatively young age. As a result, his production period was comparatively short, making his carpets particularly rare. His designs range from classic medallion compositions to pictorial and hunting scenes, but he is especially known for his more unusual and experimental works, including unconventional formats such as square or landscape layouts, as well as depictions of political figures.
He often reinterpreted classic Seirafian designs in a distinctive way. Examples include a horizontal night-sky hunting scene, a hunting scene with only two horses, or a highly unusual version of the bird-and-flower design featuring more aggressive, almost violent-looking birds.
His earlier carpets carry the classic Seirafian bottom signature, usually with a red decorated background. His later works feature a modified bottom signature with his full name added, or squeezed in, in English letters.
Hassan Seirafian
Hassan, the seventh and youngest brother, is the only one still alive and has been producing carpets for well over half a century.
His work mainly focuses on classic medallion designs, figurative pictorials, and some hunting scenes. Some of his earlier medallion and pictorial carpets are of particularly fine quality, with a very thin pile and an impressively crisp surface.
His carpets typically carry the classic Seirafian bottom signature, with “Seirafian” and “Esfahan” written in English letters in the white part of the flag on either side of the Arabic signature. Some of his more recent works also feature a top signature with his full name in English letters.
Nahid Seirafian
Not much is known about Haj Agha Reza’s daughters who were involved in carpet production. His eldest daughter, Fakhr Alzaman, is said to have produced carpets as well, but since her work was carried out in very close collaboration with and under the guidance of her father, these pieces are difficult to distinguish from his and are today mostly attributed to him.
His youngest daughter, Nahid, however, ran a fully independent production of fine Seirafian carpets and developed her own distinct style. Her work is not as widely known as that of her brothers, but it is of the same high standard. She followed the same Seirafian quality principles while introducing a slightly different character in her designs.
Her carpets are relatively rare, as her production was limited, and she mainly focused on medallion designs. A noticeable feature is the sharper drawing of floral elements and often very detailed, complex patterns compared to many of the more restrained, classical Seirafian designs.
Nahid Seirafian carpets carry only the classic Seirafian bottom signature, usually on a red decorated background.
The Active Generation
The third and fourth generations of the Seirafian family are continuing to produce highest grade Isfahan carpets and maintaining the reputation of the family. With the support of several Seirafian family members, along with specialized dealers and collectors, I’ve put together a detailed and informative guide to the first half of the active generation of Seirafian carpet producers.
