Tabriz Exklusiv

Tabriz Carpet – Elegant Persian Carpet According to Pattern

The eyes of every carpet lover light up when it comes to Persian carpets. Carpets from Persia are the mother of all oriental rugs. They captivate with excellent quality, and each carpet is unique because it is traditionally handcrafted. The Tabriz carpet is a particularly elegant representative of Persian rugs.

Carpets from Tabriz – weaving traditions for centuries
The Tabriz carpet comes from the city of Tabriz in western Iran or former Persia. The Tabriz carpet is a genuine Persian carpet and is absolutely one of the most famous of all. Tabriz is one of the oldest carpet centers in the world. From the very beginning, Tabriz has helped make the Persian carpet a globally sought-after trading item due to its location on the old Silk Road.

The Tabriz carpet is a so-called "urban carpet", i.e., a rug made in a city. This term distinguishes it from nomad carpets which are the origin of oriental rugs. Urban carpets made in the city of Tabriz are knotted according to prefabricated patterns. Nomad carpets, which are still made today in more rural regions of Iran, do not require a prefabricated pattern.

Today, the city of Tabriz is one of the world’s most important carpet centers. Unlike nomad carpets or peasant carpets, whose knot weavers make carpets solely as a secondary source of income, Tabriz carpets are made by weavers who predominantly pursue carpet weaving as their main source of income.

What makes a Tabriz rug special?
The Tabriz rug is one of the most sought-after and highest quality Persian rugs because of three factors: very accurate and splendid patterns, use of the finest materials and the high quality of knotting. As with all other carpets, the quality of a Tabriz is determined by the number of knots that woven per square meter. “Radj” is the name given to the unit of measure used to determine the number of knots. One radj indicates how many knots are located on a width of seven centimeters; the higher the number, the finer the carpet is knotted. Tabriz rugs attain qualities between 30 and 70 radj, depending on the material used and the artistic skill of the knot weaver.

What do Tabriz rugs look like?
Persian rugs from Tabriz distinguish themselves from other oriental carpets in that they are particularly accurate and finely knotted. Simultaneously, there are few traditional patterns that can be clearly classified and handed down from generation to generation. Instead, artists design motifs for an individual oriental rug and sketch them on graph paper. The sketch forms the base for the particularly fine designs. This is why there are carpets that are more reminiscent of a painting than a carpet, apart from traditional Mahi patterns.

The motif-based carpets primarily depict scenes from Persian religion and culture, hunting scenes and floral motifs with palmettes and vases. The colours of the Tabriz rug are rather subtle and descreet. In addition to rarer carpets, which are all kept in pink nuances and pastel shades, there are also specimens in shades of rust, as well as dark red, blue and shades of green. Tabriz rugs are among the most elegant Persian rugs of all.

What materials are used to weave Tabriz carpets?
Persian carpets from Tabriz usually consist of a mixture of different materials. The composition of materials will influence the carpet’s quality, appearance and robustness. As a rule, Tabriz carpets are made of highest quality sheep wool or from kork wool. However, in many cases, silk is also knotted into the oriental rug, or the carpet is at least decorated with silk. The more silk is used in weaving usually means that the number of knots per square meter will be higher, depending on how fine the yarn is. The use of fine yarns and the best wool enable the accurate designs, which are the signature feature of a Tabriz carpet.