Hand-knotted Large Vintage Birjand Area Rug, 13’9″x9’10”, Code:1140

Birjand is the center of South Khorasan province bounded by Torbat Heydariyeh and Gonabad to the north, the Iran-Afghanistan border to the east, Zabol to the southeast and south, and Tabas and Ferdows to the west. The city is surrounded by deserts, and the climate in the southern region is warm, while the mountainous region has a moderate climate. Birjand is a major and ancient center for carpet weaving, and its carpets are famous in the world under the name “Moud.” The art and industry of carpet weaving are prevalent in this city, especially in the areas of Moud and Derakhsh, and the people of these areas consider carpet weaving as their ancestral art and have a great interest in it.

Some features of Birjand carpets include their unique designs, patterns, and colors, which are designed by local designers in their own style. Hoorati (fish), Khorasani, Sharq Company (Moud), and Saadi Rubai Derakhsh are some of the prevalent patterns in this region. It is worth noting that some master weavers choose the colors of the carpets mentally and do the weaving from a black pencil drawing of the design. The colors used in these carpets are bright, often including cream, brown, gray, blue, and navy blue.

Birjand carpets are woven with very fine and delicate wool. The carpet piles are made of wool, and the warp and weft are made of cotton yarn. The number of knots in these carpets is high, usually between 30 to 40 and up to a maximum of 45 knots per inch. The knots are asymmetrical, and their pile is relatively loose. Some of the wool used in these carpets is obtained from local sheep, and the rest is procured from the Mashhad market. In the weaving of these carpets, a half-turned vertical loom called Mashhadi is used.

There are several important centers for carpet weaving in Birjand, including Moud, Derakhsh, Noghand, Asiyab, Baghestan, and Dastgerd. Carpet weaving is prevalent in the four regions of Birjand, including the central, Darmian, Sarbisheh, and Khosf regions.