|
Oriental Rugs Weaving Groups
Hereke
Country: Anatolia (Turkey)
Category: Workshop and masterworkshop
Price range: Medium to wealth General details:
The town of Hereke in north west Anatolia produce the finest silk rugs made anywhere in the world. The skill, artistry and technical virtuosity of the Hereke weavers is second to none, and the rugs they produce are justifiably regarded as among the most distinguished and valuable examples of the contemporary textiles art. Their silk rugs are normally woven on silk foundations, although cotton may sometimes be used, with an average of 700 to 800 Turkish knots per square inch, it is not uncommon for gilded metallic threads to be woven into the pile. The compositional repertoire encompasses a wide range of traditional Anatolian and Persian schemes, mainly of floral origin, but it is perhaps most closely associated with classic Ottoman prayer rug designs, which are normally articulated in intricate detail and often contain inscribed cartouches in the borders. Various shades of red, blue, yellow and gold ochres and bottle green dominate the palette, and the implicit richness of their tones is enhanced by the iridescence of the fine quality silk. However, as with all oriental rugs, some rugs are better than others, and one should always examine each rug carefully in order to assess the fineness of the knotting and the symmetry and articulation of the design. The most important contemporary master weaver in Hereke is Ozapek, who is regarded as the most accomplished contemporary Anatolian textile artist; his finest works belong to the masterworkshop class.
Hereke weavers also produce good quality woollen rugs, normally woven on cotton foundations, with between 240 and 420 Turkish knots per square inch; the pile, which is normally clipped low to medium, is of good quality wool. A wide range of traditional, mainly floral inspired, Anatolian and Persian designs are employed , but the colors are generally slightly more pastel than those used in silk rugs. Woollen Herekes are made in a range of sizes, including large room size carpets, but silk rugs are confined to 3x5 and 4x6 feet. Resale value:
The finest silk Herekes, particularly Ozapeks, make sound investments, but the resale potential of lower quality rugs is less secure. Good quality rugs may also stand a chance of maintaining their value. Heriz
Country: Persia (Iran)
Category: Village
Price range: Low to medium/high General details:
Made in the town of Heriz in north west Persia and in a number of outlying villages stretching to Tabriz. Despite this proximity to Tabriz, Heriz rugs possess an appearance and character that is unmistakably their own. The dominant composition is based on a huge angular central medallion, set against a field of geometrically stylized floral forms, within a framework of echoing, and inwardly decorated corners. This boldly heraldic scheme is usually colored in either strong or slightly muted shades of brick red, burnt orange and occasionally deep blues, with ivory, yellow ochre and paler reds and blues providing the secondary hues. At its best, it is one of the most powerful Persian decorative schemes.
This design is most closely associated with the town itself, which also produces equally heraldic allover floral schemes, with a number of slight variations being produced in the surrounding villages. The most frequently encountered of these are from Mehriban, which often employs the same floral decorations in an allover format, and Ahar, a village noted for its well made, tightly woven rugs in slightly curvilinear medallion and corner designs. The knot count of Heriz is not particularly high, but they are compact and durable, with good quality wool normally clipped low/medium to medium, and are generally regarded as the best of the more coarsely woven Persian rugs. The finest examples are made in Heriz and Ahar; slightly inferior, though very reasonable rugs are produced in Mehriban. The quality of Goeravan rugs is comparatively low.
Heriz rugs are produced in a number of sizes, including room size carpets, but small rugs are rare. Indian weavers make copies of Heriz designs (sometimes employing the typical Heriz medallion on an open field), but with a few notable exceptions, they are rather crude imitations of the originals. (Mehriban, in the Heriz region, should not be confused with the village of the same name in the Hamadan district.) Resale value:
Because of their durability and reasonable price, the better quality Heriz rugs, particularly those made in the town itself and, to a lesser degree, those from Ahar, are fair investments. The growing scarcity of authentic Persian village and tribal rugs may lead to all Heriz rugs becoming more collectable in the future. Indo Mir
Country: India
Category: Workshop
Price range: Low to low/medium General details:
Indian versions of Mir-i-Boteh design are produced in numerous workshops throughout the country, but mainly in the Bhadohi Mirzapur region of Uttar Pradesh, and represent probably the widest range of both aesthetic and structural quality in contemporary Indian rugs. At their best, Indo Mirs are as good, if not better, than anything bearing this design produced in Persia today; and at their worst, they are among the shoddiest rugs on the market. It is therefore crucial to establish the merits of each individual rug.
Most Indian rugs using this design are marketed as Indo Mirs or Indo Serabands, depending on whether an allover (Mir) or diamond shape central medallion (Seraband) has been employed, although it is not unknown for them to be named after other Persian groups who use the Boteh in their designs. Some Indo Mirs are produced in the traditionally Persian reds and burnt orange, although often in slightly more pastel shades, but many use either autumnal ochers of softer shades of champagne and ultramarine. Indo Mirs are made in wide variety of sizes, including runners and large carpets. The vast majority of Mir and Seraband rugs coming onto the market will ahve been made in India, rather than Persia. Resale value:
Good quality Indo Mir are excellent value for the money, but are unlikely to prove profitable investments. Isphahan
Country: Persia (Iran)
Category: Workshop and masterworkshop
Price range: High to wealth General details:
The ancient city of Isphahan in the central Persia produces what are arguably the most consistently fine wool pile rugs made anywhere in the world. Their quality may be matched by individual rugs from the other major Persian workshop groups, but Isphahan produces far fewer poor quality rugs.
Isphahans are knotted on either silk or cotton foundations, with up to 400 (or more) Persian knots per square inch, using exceptionally good quality, often Kurk, wool for the pile, which is normally clipped quite low. The appearance of Isphahan produced in the last 50 years under the Pahlavi influence, is radically different from those made in the later 19th and early 20th centuries. These older rugs tend to employ a richer palette and more varied designs, and because they were made under the Gahjar dynasty, they are sometimes referred to as Ghajar-style Isphahan rugs.
In contemporary rugs the palette is normally more pastel, and technical perfection is generally of greater importance than artistic flair . Contemporary Isphahans are, however, extremely attractive, and the subduing of the palette, particularly the elimination of strong reds, make them more compatible with Western decorative schemes.
A range of traditional designs are still used, including allover Shah Abbas, Vase, tree-of-life and pictorial schemes, but by far the most popular composition is based on a circular central medallions, derived from the famous mosque of Shah Lutf Allah in Isphahan, set against an elegantly sculpted field decorated with intricately purling vine, palmate and floral motifs. The most popular colors are blue, white, pale mushroom and beige, but almost every other color and tone may be used, particularly in amsterworkshop rugs.
The most famous name in Isphahan weaving is undoubtedly Serafian, although both Hekmatnejad and Haghighi have produced a number of rugs worthy of the master himself; Emame, Shahapour and Asatchi are also master weavers of note.
masterworkshop rugs are made in wide range of sizes, including extremely large room size carpets, and are far more varied and innovative in their designs. Standard workshop rugs are generally made in 4x6 feet sizes being the most common, but room size carpets are also made. Both worksho and masterworkshop rugs are frequently inlaid with silk, either as outlines on individual motifs or as large segments of the field, but rugs made entirely in silk are rarely found. Resale value:
A good quality Isphahan is generally considered an assured investment, but the market in workshop rugs can be particularly volatile, and the less exemplary rugs can not be guaranteed to increase in value. Jaipur
Country: India
Category: Workshop
Price range: Low to medium/high General details:
Made in and around the city of Jaipur in Rajasthen, they epitomize the medium grade rugs in India. They are woven on cotton foundations, with up to 160 Persian knots per square inch, using reasonable quality wool normally clipped to medium/high. Jaipur compositions are almost equally divided between traditional Caucasian and Persian, particularly medallion and corner and vase, designs, but Caucasion schemes tend to be more successful because Jaippur knotting is note quite fine enough to do justice to the more intricate and curvilinear Persian designs. The palette is also roughly divided into schemes dominated by reds and blues, and those employ autumnal shades of beige, brown and gold, the latter being more prevalent in Persian designs. Jaipur produces rugs in a wide range of sizes and shapes, including runners and large size carpets. They are normally marketed as jaipurs, but as is common in India, may also be sold under the name of the Caucasian or Persian group most closely associated with the specific design. Today, the antique recreated Persian design in vegetable dyes are market trends for Western taste home furnishing. Resale value:
Jaipurs represent good value for money and should be purchase as sound furnishing rugs, rather than investments. Kars
Country: Anatolia (Turkey)
Category: Village
Price range: Low to low/medium
General details:
Made in a number of villages, mainly in the Armenian part of Turkey, near the Russian border, they are almost exclusively bases on old Caucasian inspired designs. They are generally well made, with a knot count of 70 to 120 per square inch, on traditional woolen foundations and the pile wool, which is normally clipped to medium length, is of good quality. Although their designs are usually based on the bolder, more heraldic Kazak amulet/medallion schemes, the Kars palette is far mellower than that used in the Russia, and you should have no difficulty in distinguishing a Kars Kazak from a Russian Kazak. This combination of bold designs and pastel colors is extremely attractive and eminently compatible with most Western decorative schemes. Kars rugs are usually marketed under the name of a design or town (e.g., Kars Kazak or Kars Nigde) but they may be simply referred to as Kars. They are made in a number of sizes and large size carpets are quite rare. Resale value:
Kars are good value for money, but will probably not increase in value as much as more traditional Anatolian rugs. Kashan
Country: Persia (Iran)
Category: Workshop and masterworkshop
Price range: Medium/high to wealth
General details:
The reputation of rugs made in the central Persian city of Kashan was so high that, according to Persian folklore, it was considered a compliment to say that a person came Kashan, for this implied that they possessed quality and style. Contemporary Kashans are among the finest rugs produced, but the standard of individual rugs varies rather more than it dose with Isphahan, and it is important to assess each rug on its own merits. They may be woven on either cotton or silk foundations, with between 200 and 400 Persian knots per square inch (pure silk rugs may have 600 knots or more). The pile wool, which is normally clipped quite low, is silky and of very high quality. Kashan designs have changed less under Pahlavi influence than those of many other Persian workshop groups. Rugs are still produced in traditional colors and compositions.
Their most common design is a sculpted, diamond shaped central medallion, set against and intricately purling palmate and floral field, but allover Shah Abbas vase, hunting and pictorial schemes are also found. The rraditional palette is dominated by rich reds, blue, ivory, yellow ochre, burnt orange and occasionally green, although more recently Kashans have been produced in much paler, pastel tones. These latter rugs are usually referred to as “five color Kashans” and, with their soft bluish grays, are specially designed for the Western market, Kashans are made in wide range of sizes, but the five color Kashans are more likely to be found as room size carpets than as smaller rugs. The most famous names in Kashan weaving are Mohtaschem and Atasch Oglou, but as Kashan reather missed out on the Pahlavi boom, there are few contemporary weavers who can justifiably be elevated to the masterworkshop class. Resale value:
A good quality Kashan, whether wool or silk, is generally considered a very sound investment, but all Persian workshop carpets are susceptible to fluctuations in the market, and their resale potential is not as assured as it once was.
|
