Rugs of Persia: Tabriz

Photo: Example of a Tabriz Carpet

The art of carpet making in Persian (modern day Iran) goes back more than 2,500 years. As Iranian history progressed the art of carpet weaving began to change from city to city in Persia. Each city and tribe began to create their own style of weaving and design. The result is a varied and beautiful history of carpets with differing motifs, colors, materials and subjects. This and the subsequent blog posts after will help inform you on the many different styles of Persian carpets, from the small and basic designs of nomadic tribes to the intricate, large tapestries of Persian kings and nobles.

This first post in this series is going to focus on rugs from Tabriz, one of the oldest, most renowned and varied rug-making centers in Iran. The majority of Tabriz rugs feature a central "medallion" or large central design in the middle of the carpet. Their designs are very detailed and precise, exhibiting years of practice and refinement. Another characteristic to Tabriz carpets are designs that evoke the look of fine lacework. The colors in a Tabriz carpet are usually reds, blues, greens and ivories in lighter shades to show a floral design.

While many of these carpets feature more abstract and geometrical designs, Tabriz carpets can also feature buildings like forts, palaces and mosques.

Next week, we will explore the Qum style of Persian Carpet. Check back and look at our photo gallery at www.persianrugtulsa.com

Also, be sure to read about our beautiful da Vinci's "Last Supper" carpet here: http://amirspersianimports.blogspot.com/2010/09/last-supper-rug-beyond-compare_17.html