Tabriz rugs

Tabriz rugs, one of the most coveted of all Persian rugs, are characterized by their curvilinear patterns including medallions, hunting patterns, prayer, and pictorial rugs.
The ancient city of Tabriz, located in northwestern Iran, is the largest producer of handmade Persian wool rugs in the world. This extremely prolific city has enjoyed a wonderful reputation as a center of Oriental culture for centuries. Although rug weaving in Tabriz can be traced back to the 15th century, it was during the Middle Ages that the weavers of wool rugs began to be influenced by the work of manuscript illuminators, silk embroiderers, miniature painters, and metal workers. Curvilinear designs on wool rugs were first introduced to the courts in Istanbul by weavers from Tabriz. In the mid 19th century Tabriz established itself as the market center for the exportation of Persian wool rugs to the west. Tabriz wool rugs are double wefted and the Turkish knot is dominant, although both Turkish and Persian knots are used.
Tabriz wool rugs are characterized by their curvilinear patterns including medallions, hunting patterns, prayer, and pictorial rugs. They are famous for their wide range of patterns and styles, such as the famous 'Mahi' which is reputed to be one of the most elegant designs. Tabriz wool rugs typically feature dense floral patterns filled with palmettes, vases, and other garden elements in dark red or dark blue with contrasting shades of white or ivory.
The warps and wefts of Tabriz wool rugs are cotton and are mostly undyed, although occasionally the wefts may be either pale blue or light gray. Medium quality Tabriz wool rugs are made with cotton foundation and pure wool pile. The finer Tabriz rugs often feature a pure silk foundation with a combination wool and silk pile and can have a density of up to 800 KPSI (knots per square inch). The majority of them are mid-size to large. Although truly exceptional Tabriz rugs have been sold at auction for well over a million dollars, there are many wonderful Tabriz wool rugs that are extraordinarily beautiful and very affordable.