Malayer rugs

Malayer rugs, produced by semi-nomadic people living near Arak and Hamadan, create single wefted rugs that feature traditional designs and red as the dominant color.
Malayer, located northwest of Arak and southeast of Hamadan has an excellent reputation for weaving a Persian carpet of superior quality. The semi-nomadic people have shunned the modern ways in favor of using the same techniques and materials that have been used for generations. This region of Iran is sometimes referred to as "the land of grapes" and for this reason you may see it incorporated into the overall design of a Malayer Persian carpet. The rugs are single wefted – also called "Sennah Baft" or Hamadan weave – meaning that there is only one shot of weft between each row of knots. Talented weavers create a Malayer Persian carpet using the Turkish knot. They are well constructed of very good wool and range in quality from coarse to finer than a Hamadan Persian carpet.
Look closely at a Malayer Persian carpet and you will detect the traces of the Kurdish origins. Usually decorated with small motifs, the most popular designs on a Malayer Persian carpet are the all-over Boteh, all-over Herati, diamond or hexagonal shape medallions, and multi-sided vertically connected medallions. Boteh and Herati may be featured together on a Malayer Persian carpet with the medallion filled with Herati and the background with Boteh, or vice versa. Red is the dominant color on a Malayer Persian carpet although blues, greens, and beiges may be seen as well and all are created with natural vegetable dyes. Neutral shades and blue tones can only be seen on a rare, antique Malayer Persian carpet.
The warp of a Malayer Persian carpet is mostly cotton, while the weft is either cotton or wool. Although available in a range of sizes, the most common for a Malayer Persian carpet is mid-size (4’ x 6’ to 8’ x 10’). Their traditional designs and intricately detailed patterns in shades of red convey an image of classic beauty that will harmonize well with antiques as well as more modern décor.