Red and Black Iranian (Tabriz) Carpet, 8'6" x 4'11". From the mid-19th century there has been a revival of commercial carpet production in Iran, and Tabriz has been one of the most important centres in the country, producing carpets of widely varying quality, largely destined for Europe. These new carpets are Ghiordes-knotted and have a simpler weft arrangement. The highly varied designs include medallion schemes in curvilinear draftsmanship as well as imitations of classic carpet patterns from other parts of Persia. The designs have been criticized as too regular and mechanical, and the colouring as too hard, the old vegetable dyes having been largely supplanted by European chromes and anilines. The wool is said to be harsher than that used in other Iranian centres, resulting in a stiffer, crisper pile. Instead of using the fingers to tie the knots, it is a local custom among the weavers to use a knife with a projection like a buttonhook. By this means they can develop higher speed than the weavers in other districts and have been timed at faster than one knot per second.

Antique Rugs