Antique Hamadan
414 cm x 117 cm
Nr. 9234

Patterned Antique Hamadan runner, light brown with border

Place of origin

Hamadan (also Hamedan) rugs are knotted in the vicinity of the city of Hamadan in the northwest of Iran. Hamadan is one of the oldest cities in Persia and is situated in the middle of a well irrigated, fruit-growing area on the banks of the Qareh River, at the foot of the Zagros Mountains. Rug making in this region is a centuries-old tradition. Hamedan rug is a collective name, because in Hamedan, farmers' and nomads' rugs come to market from many surrounding villages. A typical feature of the rugs from the Hamadan region is that they are knotted on a single weft using the Turkish knot. This means that one weft thread is added after each row of knots. Persian rugs are usually knotted using two or three wefts. This antique Hamadan is a collector's item. It is about 155 years old and, therefore, a really special piece. Antique rugs like this Hamadan are still very popular and are sold at top prices by renowned auction houses.

Patterns

The repeating elements in the center field of this Hamadan rug have no specific center (so-called repeating pattern). The repeating pattern has a calming but not boring effect. Rugs with repeating patterns are also called patterned.

The embellished edging (border) forms a glorious contrast to the center and creates a transition at the edge of the rug.

The abstract, geometric composition creates the simple elegance of this Hamadan. The pattern flatters the design of the room and does not take the attention away from its furniture, decoration and architectural elements. It creates a pleasant atmosphere without dominating the style of the room.

The background of this Hamadan is light brown. The border features light brown, blue gray and dark blue.

Condition

This Hamadan has had admirers before you. It was hand knotted about 1865. 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 Hamadan 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 backing (weft and warp threads) of this Hamadan is made of virgin wool.