A City Called Tabriz
In the country of Iran, in a valley north of Sahand and south of the Eynali Mountain, lies the industrious and heavily populated city of Tabriz, where some of the world’s most beautiful handmade rugs are fashioned by some of the most experienced craftsmen in the trade. The tedious labor that goes into fashioning one of these works of art is staggering. The number of knots in a rug can vary from 120 to 850 per square inch. The history of Tabriz goes back a few thousand years and is one of turbulence and political upheaval, but the region’s influence on hand knotted rugs is unquestioned.One of the oldest hand knotted rugs known to be in existence is the Pazryck Carpet on display in the Hermitage Museum in Leningrad, Russia. This carpet was found in a partially frozen Scythin burial mound and dates from the fourth or fifth century, B.C. This rug has about 240 knots per square inch and consists of floral, geometric, and pictorial designs. It is a tribute to the history of these beautiful and useful furnishings.
Wool is the most common material used for the Persian rug. Kork wool, Manchester wool, and in a few cases camel wool are the choice materials for this textile. Silk is also used and carries a much higher price. Silk rugs are most often used as decorative wall hangings. Two basic knots are used in the weaving process of these pieces: the symmetrical Turkish or Ghiordes knot and the asymmetrical Persian or Sennah knot.
The Persian rug uses one of four typical patterns in its design: all-over, compartment, one- sided, and central medallion. Some designs are passed down from generation to generation in a family by means of memory, while very elaborate designs are drawn on graphing paper to be transferred to the loom. Today computers are being used in the designs of many carpets. But as a whole, patterns have changed very little through the centuries. Patterns are often common to the area the rug is manufactured in. Tabriz weavers often use the all-over and central medallion patterns. Weaving these rugs may take a few months or a few years, depending on the size and complexity of the work.
Tabriz rugs can be found today in spite of the embargo on Iranian goods, which includes rugs from Tabriz. These rugs are very special and hold their value very well with the embargo most likely driving the prices of these pieces upward.
These rugs have long been a symbol of wealth and culture, and have provided many homes with accent and color. They still prove to be heirlooms to be quarreled over by the survivors of many estates and will likely endure for many generations.