Old re-import Sarough | 75cm x 60cm | No. 17662

Floral Alter Re-import Sarough, rusty red with border and Medaillon

Place of origin

This rug is from Sarough (also Sarouk, Saruk or Sarogh). Sarough is one of the most famous rug-making areas in Iran. Situated in the western Persian province of Aarak, it includes the provinces of Arak, Jozan, Ghiasabad, Mahal, Malayer, Mohajeran, Sultanabad and Wiss. In Sarough, Persian patterns of all types are knotted, sometimes even according to the customer's specifications. The neighboring Farahan as well as the local Sultanabad designs and the so-called Mir-i-Boteh patterns consisting of Paisley motifs are also produced with passion. Typical for this type of rug is the very good wool quality of the pile, since the new wool comes from the Persian highlands. However, the backing (warp and weft) is usually made of cotton. In old and antique rugs, a blue weft thread is often found. The knotting is very fine and the pile is relatively high.

Old and antique Mahal and Malayer type rugs knotted in Sarough between 1880 and 1930 are particularly sought after by collectors.

The so-called American Sarouks, which were knotted especially for the American market between 1900 and 1940, are considered special examples of the art of rug-making in Iran. The colors of the American Sarouks are reduced to shades of rust, red, blue and some brown or beige, and they have a floral pattern that usually does not have a central medallion. In the 1970s these pieces became very popular in Iran as well, and were re-imported there, hence the name. Only a few pieces reached Europe from Iran. That's why the pieces that were first re-imported to Iran are particularly rare. This old Re-import Sarough is more than 40 years old and a true collector's item.

Patterns

The luxuriant flower motifs of this Re-import Sarough are elegant and varied. The graceful vegetative symbols representing flowers, leaves and branches are artfully intertwined.

The edge of the rug is decorated with an edging (border). The border forms a beautiful contrast to the center.

In the middle of the central field of this Re-import Sarough is the symmetrical center, also called medallion. The design of the field is arranged in such a way that it gives the impression that the medallion is floating on the field.

The background of this Re-import Sarough is rusty red. The border features dark blue, beige and rusty red. The beige center combines the colors dark brown and dark blue.

Condition

This Re-import Sarough has a story. It was hand knotted about 1920. We have cleaned it thoroughly and restored it lovingly. Therefore it is in very good condition despite its age.

Material

The technique used to produce the materials of the pile of this Re-import Sarough is over 200 years old. The wool is dyed with natural colors and spun by hand. Dyeing with natural or vegetable dyes is more complicated, expensive and time-consuming than dyeing with chemical dyes. For a bright red, for example, you would need about one kilogram of ground madder root per kilogram of wool as dye. For a strong, not too pale yellow, you would need two kilograms of the dye madder per kilogram of wool. Also spinning wool is time-consuming and labor-intensive. In addition, fewer and fewer people are able to hand spin wool.

But the effort is worth it: By dyeing with natural dyes, the high-quality wool retains its natural fat content. Wool dyed with natural colors and spun by hand creates fascinating, iridescent patterns. The charm of hand-spun wool with its slight irregularities and natural hues unfolds as a contrasting element in modern interiors, but also in rooms that are furnished in a more traditional or country house style. The weft and warp threads of this Re-import Sarough are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and stretchable and, therefore, ideal for a durable backing fabric.