Moud
Finely woven rigs from province of Khorassan in eastern Persia. Their designs are usually based around the Herati scheme, with or without a central medallion. They are knotted on cotton foundations, using good quality pile wool which is usually clipped quite low, and are probably the best rugs made in the province. Blue and white are the most common field colors. They are made in a wide range of sizes and are generally rather expensive, but due to their quality and limited output, represent both good value and investment potential.
Mushkabad
Principal city of Ferahan/Arak region of west central Persia, destroyed by an earthquake in the early 19th century. The name is applied to contemporary rugs made in the district, which feature a distinctive geometric interpretation of the old Sarough “medallion and Herati” design rugs.
Mushwani
Belouch tribesmen from west Afghanistan who produce extremely attractive and top quality nomadic rugs in distinctive variations on Balouch design rugs.
Nasrabad
Rugs produced by tribesmen of mixed Luri, Ghashghai and Arab origin in mainly Luri designs, particularly elongated, pendented medallions. They are coarsely knotted, but compact and hard wearing, and usually employ harmonious shades of light red, orange, camel, and yellow ochres. Nasrabad rugs are extremely collectable, because of their visual and structural qualities and also due to the fact they are one of the few nomadic groups that seem to have been unaffected by commercial pressures, leaving their rugs with an increasingly rare unspoilt freshness.
Nehavend
Village in the Hamadan region of west central Persia which produces a small number of coarsely woven rugs in a rather primitive geometric interpretation of the American Sarough design, usually reds an blues.
Nishapur
Tribesmen who produces some of the finest and most attractive Belouch rugs. Nishapur rugs are quite finely knotted in good quality wool, and often feature a plethora of tiny animals and birds interwoven between the major, usually gul like forms. Their colors are brighter and more varied than other Belouch rugs and they tend to be slightly more expensive.
Owlad
Made by Luri tribesmen in south west Persia, they are usually feature geometric medallions set against deep reds and blues. Owlads are top quality tribal rugs, made more desirable by their relative scarcity.
Peking (Beijing)
Chinese rugs featuring Shou, medallion, floral, Buddhist and Taoist motifs on open field, often in the blue and cream. In contemporary rugs, pictorial and Aubusson designs are also found, and a wider range of colors is used. The term also denotes a quality or grade.
Ghasvin
A town in the Arak region of west central Persia which used to produce very fine quality rugs almost identical to those of Sarough. A few are still on the market, these are expensive and very rare.
Ghuchan
Kurdish village in the mountains north west of Meshed in eastern Persia, which produces very attractive Caucasian style rugs. They possess a rough hewn beauty which, in addition to the quality of the wool, makes them eminently collectable.
Rawalpindi
A town innorthern Pakistan which produces Mori Bokhara rugs.
Samarkhand
Important Central Asian city on the old silk route to China. It became the main export center for Chinese rugs from Khotan, Kashgae, and Yarkand (Known collectively as Samarkhand), which are extremely rare and valuable; it is now part of the a former Soviet Union republic. Contemporary Samarkhand rugs are workshop versions of these and other older East Turkestan rugs, and combine the traditional Turkoman design repertoire, particularly the gul motif, with a more Chinese palette of richer pastel reds, blues and creams. They are similar to Beshir rugs and Bokhara in appearance, but with larger motifs and more pastel shades. The result is a fusion between the design heritage of Central Asiz and China, which is both aesthically pleasing and compatible with western furnishings. Contemporary Samarkhand rugs are well made, produces in a wide range of the sizes and comparable in price with other modern Turkestan rugs.
Serapi
Northwest Persian group which makes gepmetric and brightly colored rugs, not unlike those of Heriz. The name is most frequently encountered when applied to certain Mori Bokhara. Older Serapi rugs are now very prized and expensive.
Shah Savan
Tribemen of north west Persia who weave a number of remarkably beautfull rugs. They have much in common with the Hastrud and Khamseh rugs, but if anything the design repertoire is more vibrant and uncompromising. Outstanding nomadic rugs which will only becomes more collectable over the years.
Shirvan
The most famous and desirable of all the old Caucasian groups; they are no longer made, and those still on the market are extremely expensive. Contemporary Shirvans are made in workshops throughout the Russian an its new separated republics weaving area, but bear only a passing resemblance to the older rugs of that name. In contemporary rugs the term refers to a general quality, rather than a design.
Sinkiang
Noted for its Turkiman rugs before it was incorporated into China. Some traditionally designed rugs are still produced in he region, but most follow the more general range of modern Chinese composition. traditional East Turkestan schemes are produced and marketed in the Russia as Samarkhand rugs.
Sivas
Usually made by prisoners in the gaol of Sivas in Central Anatolia. They often feature intricate Tabriz inspired designs, are of good quality and expensive. very few rugs are made
Taffrish
Village in the Hamadan region of west central Persia which makes good quality rugs in a very distinctive design based around a huge circular central medallion (sometimes called a clock face medallion because of its division into segments). The color schemes is almost always dark blue and red with cream and yellow dark blue and red with cream and yellow ochres as secondary tones. Taffrish rugs are moderately priced and quite collectable. Indian weavers make copies of Taffrish design rugs.
Taimani
Rugs Woven by nomadic tribesmen who, although not ethnically connected, are usually considered part of the Beloch group. Taimanis are the most coarsely woven and simple of all Belouch rugs, but they possess a distinct rustic charm, are very inexpensive.
Tashpinar
Made by village tribesmen in eastern Anatolia. They are quite finely knotted for tribes rugs, using very good quality wool, and possess a primitive charm. Designs are similar to those of the Yahyali rugs, although the Tashoinar medallion is more elongated, and the same range of reds, blues, umbers, siennas, ochres, and greens is used. Relatively inexpensive and excellent value for money.
Tehran
Capital of Persia, where extremely good quality workshop rugs used to be made. Few are now produced and the older rugs can be very expensive. They are sometimes marketed as Veramin rugs.
Tientsin
A region of China that traditionally made large carpets, usually with a brownish cast, decorated with frets, swastikas and meander designs, but never flowers. Contemporary Tientsins may or may not come from this region and feature a much wider range of designs.
Tuisarkan
Rugs are made in Hamadan region of west central Persia, they usually feature an elongated hexagonal pendented medallion, with similarly contoured corners, set against a field decorated with highly stylized floral motifs. Fairly bright colors are common, with red, blue, orange, and sometimes green, predominating. Boldly attractive in both color and design, they are generally above average quality rugs for the region.
Ushak
Coarsely woven rugs made in and around the town of Ushak in western Anatolia, which are specifically designed to satisfy Western tastes. Designs includes allover floral patterns, medallion and variations on Milas prayer rug schemes, but the colors are nearly always pastel in tone. Despite the coarseness of the knotting, Ushaks use good quality New Zealand wool and are generally in the same price bracket as the more finely knotted Milas rugs. Old Ushaks are considerably finer, and more traditionally Anatolian design, but are quite rare and expensive.
Varanasi
The city of Varanasi, formerly Benares, in north east India produces rugs in a wide variety of Persian and Anatolian schemes and qualities.
Veramin
Small town near Terhran in northern Persia, which is renowned for its finely knotted and aesthetically sophisticated rugs. The most common designs are Mina-Khani, Zel-i-Sultan and Herati, but animal and plant forms are also featured. The palette is rich and varied, with numerous shades of red, burnt orange, ochres and blue, but the predominant field color is usually blue. Very few veramins come onto the market, and when they do, they are expensive. Nevertheless they are good value because of their quality and sound investment potential. Indian weavers now makes copies of Veramin designs.
Yahyali
Tribal rugs made in the village of that name in the south east corner of Anatolia, which feature a squat medallion, inwardly decorated with stylized floral forms, set against a hexagonal open field. Strong reds, blues and pale raw umber with hints of yellow ochres are dominant colors. Prime examples of Anatolian village weaving and design, they could well become more collectable in the future. In quality they are comparable to Yagcibedirs, but owing to their relative scarcity, are often slightly more expensive.
Yalameh
Rugs produced by nomadic tribesmen who occupy the Fars province of southern Persia. Their most common design is a central hooked diamond pole medallion within a hexagonal surround, set against a field decorated with floral, animal, star and human forms; contrasting but quite light shades of red, blue, orange and ochres are used. Top quality nomadic rugs, quite finely woven in good quality wool, they are equivalent in price to the very best Ghashghai rugs.
Yezd
Small town near Kerman in southern Persia, which now specializes in producing rugs in Kashan designs. They are not as finely woven as Kashans, and the wool is of poorer quality, but they are attractive and rather less expensive. Color schemes are similar to those of Kashan, but Yeaz rugs often employ a cream ground. Older rugs were mainly based on Kerman designs, and some contemporary rugs are still produced in these schemes.
Yuruk
The only truly nomadic people left in Anatolia. Their rugs are similar in character to those of the Tashpinar and Yahyali, but employ different medallion and a more vibrant palette, with violet and yellow ochres, in addition to reds, blues and greens, as the dominant colors; umbers and siennas are also found. A few very simple pictorial rugs and rugs with Caucasian influenced designs are produced. Yruks are not particularly finely knotted, but the wool is of good quality and the structure is sound. They are normally more expensive than Yagcibedirs, and they will probably becomes increasingly rare.
Zenjan
A small market town in northwest Persia which produces rugs similar to those of Bidjar. They are usually of inferior quality, but the best are better than the worst Bidjars and sometimes less expensive. The very finest can command exceptionally high prices.
