Hand-knotted Zanjan Rug, 6’5″x4’7″, Code:1184

Zanjan rugs are made in Zanjan, a city located in northwestern Iran near Tehran, which means “dear wife” or “dear woman” in Persian. They are hand-woven by nomadic tribes and have a strong Turkish influence, despite the majority of the weavers being Kurdish. Living in harmony with nature, the nomads weave rugs both for personal use and for sale, as it is often the main source of income for their families. The looms used are compact and easily transportable as the tribes migrate, resulting in most Zanjan rugs being small in size. They are made using a combination of Persian asymmetrical and Turkish symmetrical knots, with a single weft in the center.  The patterns are geometric and the colors are red, blue, and black.