Tabriz is the capital of the north-western province of Azerbaijan in Northwest Persia and for centuries has enjoyed a great reputation as a centre of Oriental culture. Genghis Kahn conquered the town in the beginning of the 16th century, but it was Shah Abbas in the late 16th century that added culture and style to the town’s craftsmanship and his name is still used in describing the best carpets from the area. In the 18th century the town saw a decline in the standards and it was not until a citizen of Berlin Heinrich Jacobi in the 19th century set up his company in the town that a renaissance started.
