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| Pile | thick, short wool | Designs | medallion, hunting, floral and geometric | | Warp/Weft | weft cotton, warp wool and some silk | Colours | pastel in all varieties | | Knots | Tabriz, 500 - 800 sqi | Tribal | azeri enclave in Iran |
Tabriz, an ancient city, the capital of Iranian Azerbaijan in N.W. Iran is a world renowned centre for carpet manufacture and rug art. Tabriz is the third largest city in Iran. Tabriz carpets boast a wide variety of designs. Tabriz rugs, however, can be sub-divided into five different categories which can be identified individually by the following characteristics. Tabriz carpets have a short pile, the Turkish knot, and a cotton warp and weft.
The newer rugs are larger, and feature the symmetrical design of set, angular, geometric, medallion-and-corner designs,a certain amount of these being influenced by Esfahan designs. Tabriz is famous for its creative designs and colour schemes in the carpet industry, workshops having been set up in the early 16th century. The pictorial, floral and figured designs of Tabriz carpets bear with them a distinct uniqueness which is well known and greatly appreciated all over the world. Koraja rugs utilise geometrical designs with an occasional medallion enclosed in a background of red or beige or other colours. The modern Ardebil rug is woven in the district of Tabriz. A cotton warp and wool nap are main features of these rugs which are woven in a medium dense pile of average thickness. The Serab rug has a thick, tightly woven pile and more often than not is made of camel hair. Usually the natural camel hair provides the colour for making the eight-sided Caucasian designs, a common feature of these rugs.
Tabatab is a simple design with plain background mostly in beige or white colours. The Tabatab design was originally created in 1945 to suit the American market but has declined in popularity in recent years.
Tabriz commercial quality usually features 20 to 30 knots and for the most part is produced in regions around Tabriz.
Other qualities are characterised by 40 knots up to 80 knots in beautiful colours and designs now produced in Tabriz and surrounding areas. . Some of the smaller cities around Tabriz now making rugs are: Marand (well known for 40 knot fish designs) Khoy ( well known for 50 knot fish and Naghseh design) Maraghe ( well known for Silk carpets marketed as Qum.)
Other well sought after designs emanating from Tabriz include the Fish design (mostly in brownish colours with repeated motifs of fish overall) Naghsheh (mostly in medallion-and-corner and other geometric designs), Tabriz cannot be equalled anywhere in the world for its artistry in portraying paintings and figures in its fine knotted pictural rugs. .
On account of its unique artistry and fine composition a good quality Tabriz rug is always considered to be a good investment, which appreciates in value over a period of time.. |
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