Old Mahal | 198 x 133 cm | Nr. Z-3333

Geometric old Mahal, dark blue with border

Origin

Mahal is a western Persian rug provenance, named after the town of Mahallat and the province of the same name.

From the 1870s onwards, the Mahallat region around the town of Sultanabad (formerly Arak) grew into an important centre for knotting Persian rugs for export. A key role in this was played by the English import house Messrs. Ziegler & Co. Ltd., run by a Swiss merchant, which opened a branch in Mahallat in 1883.

The rugs known as Farahan, Mahal, Ziegler-Mahal or simply Ziegler were knotted in the surrounding villages to Western colour and pattern specifications. This blend of European design briefs in a lighter, calmer palette with classic patterns in the style of Farahan and Sultanabad rugs was very well received in Europe.

The success was enormous, and Ziegler rugs became an international mark of quality. The exquisite flow of the many-petalled flowers is particularly impressive in Ziegler rugs. Well-preserved antique Ziegler rugs fetch record prices today – above all in the USA. For some years now, these antique Ziegler designs have been re-knotted in high quality in Pakistan and India.

The newly issued Ziegler rugs, made from hand-spun wool dyed with natural colours, are part of a revival of hand-knotted rugs. This return to traditional techniques began in the early 1980s, driven among other things by the so-called DOBAG initiative. At first, reproduction concentrated on the Ziegler rugs described above. After that, almost every traditional Persian pattern began to be reproduced. This gave rise to adaptations of antique rugs as well as contemporary designs with the charm of an antique rug. This old Mahal is around 90 years old and a real collector's piece.

Pattern

The edge of the rug is framed by a surround (border). The border forms a splendid contrast to the centre.

The abstract, geometric composition is what gives this Mahal its understated elegance. The pattern flatters the design of the room and does not draw attention away from the furniture, the decoration or the architectural elements. It fits beautifully into any setting and complements a room's furnishings in a subtle way.

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

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this Mahal. 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 but unrestored condition. The edges are damaged in places. The pile is worn in places. On one side, parts of the border are missing. We have not restored this Mahal, because we feel it has a special charm just as it is. If that is what you would like, we will of course be happy to restore the rug for you. Either way, this Mahal will bring you pleasure for decades to come.

Material

The pile of this Mahal 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 properties: thanks to the natural lanolin in the wool, the surface repels droplets of water and is thus naturally protected against dirt. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, has a regulating effect on the indoor climate and dampens sound. The weft and warp threads of this Mahal are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and elastic, which makes it especially suitable for a hard-wearing foundation.