Old Armenibaft | 253 x 98 cm | Nr. Z-3580

Geometric old Armenibaft runner, dark blue with border

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	253 cm x 98 cm (= 2.4794 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	180.000
Pile height	6mm
Year of manufacture	1930
Colour	Dark blue, light red
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

Armenian rugs from the area around Isfahan are known as Armenibaft (or Armanibaf). The Armenian community settled around Isfahan, with its centre in Djulfa, knots its rugs largely at home. Djulfa has a Christian church and a small museum devoted to Armenian culture. Armenibaft rugs typically carry a refined Bachtiari pattern. The strikingly full Turkish knot is the reliable hallmark of these rugs. They are knotted from high-quality, lustrous wool and are very rare. This old Armenibaft is around 90 years old and a real piece for enthusiasts.

Pattern

The decorated surround (border) forms a beautiful contrast to the centre and shapes the transition at the edge of the rug.

The abstract, geometric composition is what gives this Armenibaft its understated elegance. The pattern flatters the way a room is arranged and never draws attention away from the furniture, the décor and the architectural details. It creates a pleasant atmosphere without dominating the style of the room.

The surface of this Armenibaft has a mottled look. The shifts in hue and the light-and-dark shading of the pile yarn make the colours shimmer and keep the rug forgiving of dirt. These so-called colour shifts, known as abrash, give the rug a livelier appearance. The mottling comes about because the wool of this Armenibaft was hand-spun. During dyeing, the natural dyes are absorbed to differing degrees.

The background of this Armenibaft is dark blue. The border is worked in dark blue and light red.

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this Armenibaft. It has had owners before you who valued and used it. It was hand-knotted around 1930. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good, though unrestored, condition. The edges are damaged in places. The fringes could do with a repair. The pile is heavily worn. We have not restored this Armenibaft, because we feel it has a special presence exactly as it is. If you would prefer otherwise, we are of course happy to restore the rug for you. Either way, this Armenibaft will give you pleasure for decades to come.

Material

The pile of this Armenibaft was hand-knotted from high-quality new wool. New wool is obtained by gently shearing sheep. New wool is a renewable, natural raw material with a number of impressive qualities: thanks to the natural lanolin in the wool, the surface repels drops of water and is naturally proofed against dirt. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, helps regulate the indoor climate and absorbs sound. The weft and warp threads of this Armenibaft are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and elastic, which makes it especially well suited to a hard-wearing foundation.