According to the family history on its official website, Shirfar's rug-making tradition began in 1926. Ebrahim, of the second generation, learned design and colour from his father Naghi as a child and presented his first independent work in 1976. He later continued the family enterprise with his two younger brothers. Existing signed works can be approached through classical proportions and fine floral vines, tracing the relationship between central medallion and borders.
Works and style
Contemporary works
Existing signed works use light grounds, small central medallions and continuous fine floral vines, maintaining coherence between borders and field. Viewers can first consider the medallion's proportion within the whole, then follow the vines outwards. Rich detail serves the overall arrangement, presenting the balance and linear rhythm of classical rugs.
People and heritage
Family continuity diagram
According to the family's account, Naghi founded the enterprise in 1926 and taught design and drawing to his eldest son Ebrahim. Ebrahim completed an independent work in 1976; his younger brothers Esmail and Mojtaba grew into the work alongside their father and elder brother. After their father's death in 1993, the three brothers continued developing the family's colour and design practice.
Earlier mastersNaghi Shirfar
First generation · historical figure
Naghi Shirfar
Family enterprise founder and teacher of design and drawing
Second generation
Ebrahim Shirfar
Design, drawing and art rug creation
Parent's generation: Naghi Shirfar
Second generation
Esmail Shirfar
Joint continuation of the family's design and production enterprise
Parent's generation: Naghi Shirfar
Second generation
Mojtaba Shirfar
Joint continuation of the family's design and production enterprise
Parent's generation: Naghi Shirfar
People and heritage
Family archive
The official family history records that Naghi established the enterprise in 1926. His eldest son Ebrahim learned rug design and colour from him, completing his first independent work in 1976. After their father's death in 1993, the three brothers continued design and production together. Ebrahim is also named in Iran's carpet industry recognition list for 2024.
One signed work in the archive presents classical composition through a light field, small central medallion and fine floral vines. The proportions between centre and borders are a useful starting point: dense lines have their place within the whole, and continuous boundaries bring details together, allowing close viewing and a return to the overall composition.