Jameel Gallery 2-3 Lengths of Velvet with Flowers Iran, probably Isfahan 1600-1700 When Shah Abbas I made Isfahan his capital shortly before 1600, he developed the city as a centre of luxury textile production. Silk velvets were made in abundance, both for local use and for export. Many had floral patterns, some composed of fantastic blossoms (2), others of flowers closer to nature (3). Silk velvet Museum nos. 286-1894, 717-1899 [Jameel Gallery] VELVET Persian; 16th -17th century. Flowering plants in silk pile of five colours, now faded. [Old label] Silk velvet with a pattern of floral sprays, reversed in alternate rows. The colours are: dark purple, yellow, pale blue, red [much faded] on a rich golden brown ground. Length of velvet with fantastic blossoms, Iran (probably Isfahan), 17th century. This piece of silk velvet was a dress fabric. It is just one of the many silk velvets made in abundance at Isfahan, both for local use and for export. Many had floral patterns. Some were composed of naturalistic flowers, others (like this example) of fantastic blossoms. Shah Abbas I, a member of the ruling Safavid dynasty, made Isfahan his capital shortly before 1600. He then developed the city as a centre of luxury textile production.