Mahal rugs

Mahal rugs, produced in the town of Mahallat, located southwest of Arak, feature both tribal and curvilinear designs in shades of red, khaki, and blue.
Mahal area rugs are produced in the town of Mahallat, located southwest of Arak. Mahallat is world renowned for its exquisite area rugs and for its mineral springs. People from all over the region travel to the mineral springs for their therapeutic qualities and health benefits. The rug weaving industry in the region can be traced back for centuries. Due to the location of Mahallat, the area rugs have a Kurdish influence as well as a Turkish influence. The fact that Mahal area rugs feature both tribal and curvilinear designs can be directly attributed to the fact that Mahallat is located between the cities of Arak and Delijan. Skilled artisans may use either the Turkish or Persian knot, depending on the particular styles of area rugs that they are weaving.
The Shah Abbas design found on many Mahal area rugs is one of the most enduring and one of the most copied. Its all-over scrolling vine and large palmetto designs are a big favorite in the current market. Almost all of the Mahal tribal area rugs feature the very popular Mahi design - fish in Farsi, consisting of a rosette surrounded by four leaves inside a diamond shape and a rosette surrounded by a fish pattern repeating throughout the field of the rug. Another name for this design is the Herati. Dark red and khaki are the main colors featured on Mahal area rugs while the borders are most often blue. The yarn is dyed in pure natural colors with vegetable dyes.
The warp on Mahal area rugs is mostly cotton, while the weft is either cotton or wool. However, you may find older, very fine pieces made from silk. Although most Mahal area rugs are mid-size, it is not uncommon to find large rugs up to 10’ x 18’. Spacious patterns, greatly detailed floral designs, and the bold coloring found on Mahal area rugs will create a sophisticated and elegant look in any home.