Kerman is an ancient city, with an incredible history going back over a thousand years. Marco Polo was one of the first westerners to view Kerman rugs. The city is located in the central south-eastern section of Iran, in the province that bears its name. Kerman rugs and carpets are perhaps one of the most recognizable within the antique Persian rug category. A typical pattern for Kerman rugs and carpets is a floral or architectural theme in the main border with a central medallion in the field. Other patterns include the finer Kerman Lavar style with garden, tree-of-life, vase, and all-over mille fleur designs, or the many pictorials which tell the story of a significant figure or event in history. The vase design carpets originated during the Safavid dynasty, and are among the greatest masterpieces of Persian weaving.