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Zanjan |
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In the province of Zanjan, three
different kinds of carpets are made. The first is double
weft and thick-woven, the second kind of carpets are those
woven in Afsharieh with double-weft and with very fine
designs and colours. Although they resemble those made in
Bijar yet they cost much less because the structure, unlike
that of Bijar, is not well balanced. The last category is
similar to Hamedan rugs.
Carpets woven many years ago have
had interesting colours such as light blue, light orange and
black (a colour rarely used in Iran). Other colours that one
can find in Zanjan productions are red, blue, brown and
beige. The most common dimensions are Sajjadeh and runners
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North Persia
One would search the literature in vain for an autonomous
north Persian carpet weaving region: it does not exist
Nevertheless, an attempt will be made here to join a number
of centers into an identifiable carpet weaving area in north
Iran. There is a close relationship between these weaving
centers, in as much as they did not develop their own
indigenous designs, but borrowed other old established
patterns and wove them within their own idiom, occasionally
with great success. The weaving centers of this newly
defined north Persian group have been previously, rather
awkwardly, included in north-west or central Persia, and are
Kazvin, Kelardasht, Talcghan, Tehran and Varamin. In the
country north of Tehran, carpet weaving did not develop into
a significant industry. The south coast of the Caspian Sea
offers the attractions of sub-tropical holiday resorts, and
excellent conditions for agriculture. Rice, sugar cane and
tea are grown here, as well as silk worms for the highly
developed silk industry and the sturgeon hatcheries provide
stiff competition for Russian caviar.
On the other hand there is no good pasture for sheep along
the Elburz mountain range, which extends for 350 km (220
miles) and whose 5,000 m (16,400 ft.) high peaks covered in
‘perennial’ snow tower above the skyline of Tehran. Here
mountain goats, chamoix and ibex eke out a meagre existence.
Nevertheless, it is worth while to look at the products of
the small weaving villages since the occasional notable and
desirable pieces comes onto the international market.
Kelardasht
From this village close to the Caspian Sea and its
surrounding area come pieces of interest for their unusual
weaving method. Most of the carpets used to be made for
private use on looms attached to the walls of the houses,
However, the solidly woven pieces were soon recognized as a
source of income and made to simple artistic patterns,
mostly of rows of stepped hexagons, squares and octagons,
the designs and colors of
Kelardasht carpets have their own original charm.
Sizes: all the usual carpet and rug sizes. Runner formats
are less common,
Colors: the ground color is usually bright tile red.
Patterns: the total effect of the carpets resembles
Caucasians, particularly in their use of reciprocal turreted
borders, rosettes, hooked ornaments and simple stylized
floral and geometric designs in the Caucasian style.
Foundation: the cotton warp and woolen welts lend Kelardasht
carpets a hard dense structure.
Knots: .Coarsely woven in Turkish knots with up to 1,000
knots per sq. dm(65 per sq. in.).
Pile: the strong, but rather soft, wool is clipped medium
high.
Quality: the originality of the designs and excellent
durability place these Kelardasht carpets near the top of
the medium to good class.
Semnan
This town, which today has 50000 inhabitants, lies on the
route from Tehran to Meshed on the southern spur of the
Elburz range. In carpet books Semnan is often located in
central Persia or Khorasan. The fineness of weaving, as well
as the design and coloring, give credence to both
connections, whilst on the other hand carpets from Semnan
also share characteristics of north Persian carpets. In this
instance, a
geographic attribution seems preferable to an ethnographic
one, and for this reason the carpets of this 1,000 year -
old town have been entered under the provenance of North
Persia.
Sizes; room size carpets predominate up to 15 sq. m (165 sq.
ft ); rugs up to 1.50 x 2.20 m (5 ft. x 7 ft. 3 in.) are
also found.
Colors: pieces which resemble Isfahan rugs have mainly red
colors, Those that relate better to Meshed products have a
inure restrained
palette. Decorations and outlines are in various red and
blue shades; other colors include yellow, a warm green, and
ivory.
Patterns: two styles can he distinguished: eastern small and
finely
articulated designs, often in endless repeats. and floral
and medallion designs similar to those of south Persia. The
Shah Abbas design is popular its borders as well as its the
field, and as a corner resolution.
Foundation: warps and welts are mainly made of finely spun
cotton and rugs have a hard, stiff handle.
Knots: Finely and very densely woven in the Persian knot
with up to 2,500 per sq. dm (160 per sq. in.).
Pile: glossy, rather soft wool, clipped low, particularly in
the rare old pieces and even rarer antique pieces.
Quality: old and antique pieces of this provenance are
amongst the rarities too valuable to use on the floor. New
production is small; a few furnishing pieces of high quality
appear on the market.
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