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Arak & Farahan region Lilihan, Moshk-abad, Saraband, Sarugh (or Saruq) |
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The Farahan area belongs truly neither to Western nor to Central Persia.
Some carpet specialists label the area between Ghom, Kashan and Soltan-abad, as the Arak region (Arak is the new name for
Soltan-abad),
others as the Mahallat. Nevertheless, whatever the names employed,
these weaving centers have only one thing in common, they are generally
of very high quality. In other respects they are dissimilar in structure,
design and type of wool. This can be illustrated by considering two
specific representatives of their groups: Farahan and Saruq rugs, both of
which stem from this triangle, belong to the highest quality of Persian
carpets, yet possess very different features. The Farahan carpet is very
finely woven from hard wool, is clipped very flat, and its restrained style
of decoration is almost Gothic in character. The Saruq, on the other
hand, is fine, is made from very much softer wools and is more densely
woven. Projecting an exuberant lust for life, its style is almost baroque',
especially those pieces woven for America. By promoting the Farahan
region in the early 18th century, Nadir Shah exerted an influence on its
weaving products and on the export of these carpets which were prized
even at this very early date. But it was not until immigrant designers and
weavers of Herat had established the use of the Mahi-to-Hos (fish-in-the-
water) motif, also known as the Herati' pattern, that Farahan attained
the significance that it still has today. England was the major importer of
these elegant and reserved carpets: the gentleman's carpet'.
From this triangle between west and central Persia come the carpets labeled
Farahan, Lilihan, Mahallat, Moshk-abad, Saruq, Saruq-Mir, Saraband-Mir, Soltan-abad
(or Arak as it is now known) and Viss as well
as the products of various other small carpet weaving villages. |
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