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Kashan is an important city in central Iran, with a magnificent history of carpet weaving dating from the 16th century. Classic pieces show a diamond-shaped medallion with small matching spandrels on a floral field, but all-over fields of Shah Abbas flowers, pictorial and hunting scenes are also found. They are mostly in wool, but some have been woven in pure silk. Traditional theme colors are reds and blues, but more recently Kashans have been woven in paler beiges, with greyish-blue and olive-green tones, for the international market. |
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Heriz is a small town with a grand reputation. It is located in north-western Iran, south of Tabriz in the province of Azerbaijan. The tribal Heriz is a thicker, heavier carpet, renowned for its earth tones and geometric patterns. While no two carpets are identical, they tend to have an attractive similarity. Most have a large squarish medallion in black or navy set in a lighter field, with the main colors of the rug in shades of rust red, with beige, navy, brown or black details. Sizes are usually large in these rugs, smaller sizes being rare for this group. |
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Inexpensive ,well made rusgs,produced in a wide variety of desing , that consistently combine tribal authenticity wşth a delighful,if somewhat primative, decorative chathe Belouch are a large tribal grouping who roam the vast border region between eastern Persia and western Afghanistan- and not, as the name wpuld imply, the province of Baluchistan in South-east Persia-althoug some tribes have been know to drift into Pakistan.The vast majority of Belouch rugs are made by the nomadic tribesmen, but a small number are woven in the villages around Firdaus in central Khorassan, by people of Arab extraction.However, all Belouchs are produced in the same way and can justifiably be referred to as nomadic rugs.They are normally woven on woollen foundations with between 60 and 100 Persian knots per in ;pile wool , although not particularly lustrous, is generally of excellent quality.Belouch desings are usually confined to prayer rugs an repeating allover geometrical motifs,although some figurative rugs are sometimes produced.Within this limited repertoire , a wide variety of motifs and decorative schemes may be found.In prayer rugs,the most common field decotations are highly stylized tree-of-life, leaf,vegetal and geometric schemes, but architectural boteh and gul-likr patterns are olsa employed.In repeating allover compositions the motifs may be either vegetal-inspired or entirely geometric, but they are nearly always highly abstracted.These allover compositions are similar to those of the Beshir,bu a Belouch can usually be recognized by a tendency to enclose motifs within a lattice , and by the use of strong white or yellow ochre outlines, particularly in the border.The belouch palette is dominated by shades of red and blue ;camel and beige are also employed, either as pigment sor by using natural, undyed wool. |
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Among the finest handmade carpets ever made, Isfahan rugs are the pinnacle of the Persian carpet. In an enchanted city, renowned for its taste and finesse, these carpets are of great delicacy and utmost intricacy. The city of Isfahan holds pride of place in the Persian rug industry because of its rich history and reputation dating back to the 16th century. Most Isfahan carpets are finely detailed in wool and silk, often on a base of pure silk. Until the middle of the 20th century colors were mostly stronger, like bold reds and blues on the ubiquitous beige. But later comes the visible influence of the international Designer, with more subdued ranges of subtler colors. Still, at the sight of curvilinear vines snaking over an elegant field around an exquisite medallion, especially if the long fringes glisten silkily from magnificent borders, the word 'Isfahan' tends to spring to one's lips. Patterns include pictorial and tree-of-life schemes, as well as the Shah Abbas field with its floral vines. |
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Qum carpets are among the finest in the world. Although it does not boast a long and ancient history, Qum, south of Tehran, creates exceptional works of art, frequently entirely in pure silk. The carpet industry of this city is incredibly modern, producing quality which is extraordinary. Prices tend to be very high, reflecting superb quality of materials, design and execution. Syles and patterns vary tremendously, as this city usually recreates ancient historical patterns from many other noble sources. Most respected are hunting scenes or other pictorials, not to mention the brilliant medallions and borders of unbelievable finesse. |
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Among the finest carpets in the world, the word Nain is sometimes used in Iran as a synonym for 'fine'. These elegant carpets are produced in and around the city of Nain, some 60 miles east of the enchanted city of Isfahan. A favorite of many collectors, Nains are precise, delicate and can be stunningly beautiful. They are woven on cotton, or on silk of varying degrees of quality, and are mostly beige and blue, with stunning silken highlights. The blues can vary from the deepest midnight to the palest sky, with royals and spectacular turquoises along the way. Typical details include the curvilinear vines with forked leaves, Shah Abbas flowers, birds and animals, and regal borders. Many are signed, and for a genuine Habibian signature it is permitted to sell the farm. |
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Tabriz is an ancient city in north-western Iran, and the most prolific of all carpet centres. The quality in their carpets is generally exceptional, with most on a base of fine cotton, but sometimes on pure silk. There are many unique designs but typically the pattern in a Tabriz rug is filled with dense floral motifs, large palmettes, vases, or vivid hunting scenes or pictorials in the field. These can be with or without a medallion, and geometric designs are also seen. Tabriz has sub-styles as well. These include the restrained and elegant 'Mahi' in co-ordinated borders of subdued tones that fit in anywhere; the Naqsheh, with its plethora of pinks on beige, or very occasionally, black; and the wild but beautiful Tabatabaie, always in touches of orange, lemon green and beige. The finer Naqsheh and Mahi are mostly in highly-priced Kurk wool, and silk is often used to outline lavishly the highlights of the rug.
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