Mahabad rugs

Mahabad rugs, woven in the province of Azerbaijan in northwestern Iran, are known for their deeply saturated colors, dense floral designs, and great color consistency.

Mahabad, formerly called Savojbolagh Mokri, is in the province of Azerbaijan in northwestern Iran near Tabriz. Mahabad has been an important Kurdish center since the 19th century and served as the capital of a brief Kurdish Republic (consisting of the northern part of Persian Kurdistan, with Kurdish as the official language) from 1945-46. Mahabad weavers produce mainly a Turkoman area rug. The distinguishing feature of a Mahabad area rug is the frequent use of an all-over pattern of small Turkish designs on very soft and luxurious pile. An area rug from Mahabad has a flat back and is woven with very rounded symmetrical knots.

Tribal patterns, geometric designs, florals, or all-over patterns are common on a Mahabad area rug, although the Herati design is one of the most popular. This old Mongol (Turkish) pattern is easily recognized by its fish and turtle design. The background is often comprised of a flower centered in a diamond with curving leaves located outside the diamond and parallel to each side. A Mahabad area rug is dominated by burgundy, red, deep blue, and black contrasted by ivory, beige, coral, and green. They are known by their deeply saturated colors and dense floral designs. Unlike many other tribal rugs, a Mahabad area rug has great color consistency.

The warp on a Mahabad area rug is mostly cotton, while the weft is very thick and shiny goat wool woven in a tight pile. Although available in a wide range of sizes, a Mahabad area rug is most often mid-size (4’ x 6’ to 8’ x 10’). Their extremely sturdy construction and beautiful designs make them ideal for use in any room in the house, including high traffic areas or in homes with small children and pets. The rich colors on a Mahabad area rug will create a warm and inviting ambience in your home and complement any style of décor.