Tabriz Rugs


Two Tabriz Persian carpets in direct comparison

Facts
Type Persian Rugs
Location North of Iran (former Persia)
Typical Knot Density 120.000 - 1.000.000 knots / sqm
Characteristics High knot density, middle medallion and floral patterns

In one of the country's largest cities you will find an equally extensive carpet production with qualities ranging from simple to luxurious. We are talking about Tabriz, a city 600km west of the capital Tehran, which is the provincial capital and home to the Asari, the largest minority in the country. For centuries Tabriz has been a place of trade with its central location to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey. Among the products traded are hand knotted Persian carpets. The blue mosque and the statue of the famous poet Khaqani are well known in Tabriz.

Tabriz carpets are easily distinguished by an additional designation. The categorisation refers to the knot density per square metre, and thus gives an indication of the quality. While the finest carpets have more than a million knots and are called 90Raj, simple rugs still have a density of 400,000-500,000 knots (40Raj). A density that far exceeds that of most other carpet provenances. Rare are already Tabriz 70Raj with up to 1,000,000 knots per m2.

Knots on 7cm (2.66 in)
40 knots 40 raj, equivalent to about 300,000 knots per m2 (27,871 knots per square feet)
50 knots 50 raj, equivalent to about 500,000 knots per m2 (46,452 knots per square feet)

60 knots 60 raj, equivalent to about 750,000 knots per m2 (69,677 knots per square feet)
70 knots 70 raj, equivalent to about 1,000,000 knots per m2 (92,093 knots per square feet)
80 knots 80 raj, equivalent to about 1,300,000 knots per m2 (120,774 knots per square feet)


Quality Tabriz carpets are mostly of short pile of good wool. Their pattern is dominated by a medallion in the middle, whose surroundings are decorated with floral garden motifs. However, there are also portraits of palaces and ruins or of famous poets of Persian culture, such as Sadi, who is considered the most popular poet in the country's history.


Further Examples


These rugs have been provided from an assortment of over 1.200 Tabriz rugs by Nain Trading from Hamburg. Hamburg, Germany is still the most important hub for the trade of oriental rugs in the Western World with Nain Trading offering one of the largest assortments of handmade oriental carpets worldwide.



Impressions from Tabriz

The famous Blue Mosque in Tabriz Colourful mountains near Tabriz, Iran
The famous Blue Mosque in Tabriz Colourful mountains near Tabriz, Iran

Location - where is Tabriz located?

The city has about 1.6 million inhabitants and is located in the north of Iran.





Categories Persian rugs


Abadeh
Robust Persian rugs, characterised by their hexagonal centre medallion.
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Ardebil
Robust Persian rugs that are ideal for everyday use and affordable at the same time.
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Afshar
Knotted by former nomads with straight-line patterns, today very popular again.
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Bakhtiar
Garden motifs from Persian gardens, for which these rugs are known and appreciated.
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Bidjar
Rugs knotted in Kurdish style and known for their firm pile.
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Gabbeh
Simple and elegant – probably the most famous nomad rugs from Iran.
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Ghashghai
Typically knotted in reddish brown colours and on horizontal looms.
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Qom
Rugs that stand for luxury and are especially known for their natural silk.
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Hamadan
Different colours and patterns come from the Hamadan region.
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Heriz
Large elaborate central medallions can be found on these rugs.
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Isfahan
Some of the finest rugs come from Isfahan. Also collectors find a highly valuable piece here.
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Kerman
Floral patterns from one of the once most highly regarded rug regions.
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Kashan
Rugs with an excellent reputation and a far-reaching tradition.
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Koliai
Robust and strong, these carpets were knotted by Kurds in Iran.
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Mashhad
Different designs, which originate from the probably holiest place of Iran.
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Moud
Popular for the garden motifs or the well-known Herati pattern.
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Nahavand
Typically, these rugs are kept in red and blue.
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Nain
They belong to the finest rugs and are known for their striking design.
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Senneh
Rugs with mostly geometric patterns from the provincial capital of Kurdistan.
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Shiraz
Typical nomadic carpets from the old Shiraz among the ancient ruins of Persepolis.
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Tabriz
Well-known rugs with central medallion in different levels of quality.
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