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Handmade wool on cotton, Antique Tabriz Wool on Cotton, in excellent condition.

Tabriz rugs are a place where exceptional quality meets and endless array of designs. Tabriz, a city located in the northwest of Iran is probably the most prolific and one of the oldest rug weaving centers and makes a huge diversity of types of antique Persian area rugs /carpets. It played a significant role in development the rich traditions of the decorative and applied arts. The art of Tabriz carpet was in its zenith in the 12th-16th centuries. Indeed, during the time of the Safavid Dynasty (1499 – 1722) which marks the finest era of Persian rug weaving, Tabriz became the artistic center of Persian culture and rug weaving which can be described by a high level of craftsmanship demonstrated by artists and carpet weavers.


Ancient Persian Tabriz rugs are a beautiful blend of fine Kurk wool and silk or a combination of the two.  Tabriz rugs have a unique weave consisting of double wefts usually made of cotton or wool together with cotton warps. Some of extremely luxurious, high end antique Tabriz rugs use silk as an essential part for both the foundation and the pile, with 18 or 24 karat gold threads interwoven in the base. Antique Tabriz rugs are known for their densely-knotted structure with 300 to 800 KPSI not being uncommon.  The range starts at Bazaar quality of 24 raj (Number of knots per 7 cm of the widths of the rug) and on up to the incredibly fine 110 raj. Raj is the unit of knot density. It shows the rigidity of the rug which based on the number of strings used for the foundation of the rug. Strings materials are usually made of cotton or silk which is used for very fine rugs.

 

The traditional topics for the Tabriz carpets are the ornamental patterns, with the following dominant background colors: cream, red or navy blue. Often the topics for the Tabriz carpets are drawn from the works of the great Persian and Oriental poets. The carpets depict the scenes of falconry or images of a ferocious lion. Well known are also Tabriz carpet-pictures with images of fragments of palaces and mosques, scenes of battles or vivid hunting scenes.

 

The major producers in Tabriz today include: Alabaf of Tabriz, Galibafi Nassadji Tabriz, and Miri Brothers. The Tabriz school can be divided into 2 subgroups: Tabriz and Ardabil.   

 

Tabriz Wool and Silk Rug, Persian Medallion rug, 3’3”x 4’8” Wool Tabriz Rug

SKU: K-4079
  • 40" x 58"

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