Antique Re-Import Sarough | 120 x 69 cm | Nr. 19039

Floral antique Re-Import Mohajeran Sarough, rust red with border and medallion

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	120 cm x 69 cm (= 0.83 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	420.000
Pile height	4mm
Year of manufacture	1890
Colour	Rust red, blue-grey
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

 

Origin

This rug comes from Sarough (also spelled Sarouk, Saruk or Sarogh). Sarough is one of the best-known rug-knotting regions in Iran. Located in the western Persian province of Aarak, it takes in the provenances Arak, Djozan, Ghiasabad, Mahal, Malayer, Mohajeran, Sultanabad and Wiss. Persian patterns of every kind are knotted in Sarough, in some cases to the buyer's own specifications. Weavers there are especially fond of the neighbouring Farahan designs, of their own Sultanabad patterns and of the so-called Mir-i-Boteh pattern made up of paisley motifs. Typical of this type of rug is the very good wool quality of the pile, as the new wool comes from the Persian highlands. The foundation – warp and weft – is, however, usually made of cotton. In old and antique rugs you will often find a blue weft thread. The knotting is very fine and the pile relatively high.

Especially sought after by collectors are the old and antique rugs of the Mahal and Malayer types that were knotted in Sarough between 1880 and 1930.

A special chapter in the Iranian art of rug knotting belongs to the so-called American Sarouks, knotted between 1900 and 1940 specifically for the American market. The palette of the American Sarouks is pared down to rust, red, blue and a few brown and beige tones, and they carry a floral pattern that usually manages without a central medallion. In the 1970s these pieces also became hugely popular in Iran and were re-imported there. Hence the name. Only a handful of pieces then found their way from Iran to Europe. That is what makes the pieces first re-imported into Iran so rare. This antique Re-Import Sarough is a collector's piece. It is around 130 years old, and for that reason alone a truly special piece. Antique rugs like this Re-Import Sarough are as sought after as ever and fetch top prices at renowned auction houses.

 

Pattern

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

The lavish floral motifs of this Re-Import Sarough are elegantly drawn and full of variety. The graceful plant symbols, depicting blossoms, leaves and branches, are artfully intertwined.

In the middle of the central field of this Re-Import Sarough lies the symmetrical centre, also known as the medallion. The design of the field is subordinate to the medallion, so that the medallion seems to float on the field.

The background of this Re-Import Sarough is rust red. The border is worked in blue-grey and beige-yellow. In the blue-grey centre, beige-yellow and dark blue are combined.

 

Condition

You're not the first to take a liking to this Re-Import Sarough. It had owners before you who valued it and put it to use. In a few places along the edges the pile has worn a little thinner. The piece has also been trimmed evenly by about a centimetre at both fringe ends, which takes nothing at all away from the beauty of the pattern and is therefore something only true connoisseurs of these wonderful pieces will notice. It was hand-knotted around 1890. We have cleaned it thoroughly and restored it with care. That is why – despite its age – it is in very good condition.

 

Material

The pile of this Re-Import Sarough was hand-knotted from high-quality new wool. New wool is obtained by gently shearing sheep. It 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 naturally protected against dirt. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, helps regulate the indoor climate and dampens sound. The weft and warp threads of this Re-Import Sarough are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and stretchy, which makes it particularly well suited to a hard-wearing foundation.