A tablecloth that carries its own story, the Sarv-e Khamideh design takes its name from the curved cypress, a tree said to bend rather than break. This 100 x 100cm Persian termeh tablecloth is hand embroidered with fine sarmeh-dozi thread work over a traditional boteh jegheh pattern, making it a fitting centrepiece for a reception table, coffee table, or a Haft-Sin table setting during Nowruz. Persis Collection works directly with the artisans behind pieces like this, so every order supports Persian artisans still practising this needlework by hand.
Handmade Persian Tablecloth: Craftsmanship and Care
Every detail of this handmade Persian tablecloth is worked by hand, from the nine-colour termeh weave to the grade-one sarmeh thread used in the sarmeh-dozi embroidery, chosen for its fast colour and lasting shine. The stitching uses magzi-dozi, a padded technique that raises the embroidery above the fabric for extra depth, while a grade-one lining on the reverse protects the threadwork and gives the cloth real weight on a table, helped by its 840 gram finish. Because the embroidery is fine and hand-worked, it should never go in a washing machine or be scrubbed by hand; a soft dry brush lifts surface dust, and any deeper clean is best left to a dry cleaner experienced with embroidered textiles. Store it away from direct sunlight, damp, perfume and alcohol, and if ironing is needed, work only the plain sections from the back on a low heat with a protective cloth, since direct heat dulls the metal thread.
The Story Behind the Sarv-e Khamideh Design
The border carries delicate flower and vine motifs worked in fine sarmeh-dozi, meeting a boteh jegheh-shaped toranj in one corner, a medallion that echoes the paisley pattern running through the central field. The cypress itself is drawn bent rather than upright, reflecting an old idea in Persian art, that a tree survives by bending in the wind but never loses its roots, and the nine shades of termeh thread give the surface a warmth that shifts gently with the light. Readers curious about the wider needlework tradition behind this piece can look into termeh embroidery for more background.
Specifications:
- Material: termeh fabric with sarmeh (metallic) thread embroidery
- Size: 100 x 100 cm
- Weight: 840 g
- Colour: nine-colour termeh weave
- Design: Sarv-e Khamideh (curved cypress) with boteh jegheh pattern and toranj
- Technique: hand embroidered sarmeh-dozi with raised magzi-dozi work
- Lining: grade-one fabric on the reverse
- Care: dry clean only, soft brush for dust, store away from sunlight and damp
