Hand-knotted Vintage Large Tabriz Rug, 12’7″x9’10”, Code:1141

Tabriz Persian rugs are considered to be the most popular brand in the hand-knotted category and are known for their intricate designs, captivating imagery, and traditional artistic elements. The city of Tabriz, located in north-western Iran, is considered to be the birthplace of rug weaving art. The finest examples of traditional floral rug designs, geometric patterns, famous fish designs, and pictorial wall hanging rugs can only be found among Tabriz Persian Rugs. The quality of the carpets is generally exceptional, with most being made on a base of fine cotton or pure silk. Unique designs include dense floral motifs, large palmettes, vases, hunting scenes, or pictorials in the field. The city has sub-styles such as the elegant ‘Mahi’ and the wild but beautiful Tabatabaie. The finest rugs are usually made of highly-priced Kurk wool, and silk is often used to outline the highlights of the rug. Tabriz is one of the oldest and most prolific carpet-producing centers in the world. Its artistic heritage dates back to the Safavid Dynasty (1499-1722), when the Safavids established a royal workshop in the city, making it the artistic center of Persian culture. Today, many rugs produced in Tabriz emulate this heritage, and the master-weavers often weave their signature into a part of the carpet’s border. The materials used for the pile of these rugs are wool, silk, or a combination of the two. A beautiful blend of fine Kurk wool and silk is the most common in a fine Tabriz, with wool only used in those of average quality. In the very finest carpets, the foundation of the rug is pure silk and some even have 18 or 24 karat gold threads woven into the foundation. Tabriz rugs are considered to be some of the finest in the world and can only be compared to rugs from other cities such as Isfahan, Kashan, Kerman, Qum, and Nain. The most spectacular designs are the Nagsheh, the intricate and restrained Mahi, and the magnificent Dome, depicting the internal architecture of a mosque.