Antique Sarough | 146 x 79 cm | Nr. Z-553

Floral antique Sarough, rust red with border

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	146 cm x 79 cm (= 1.15 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	250.000
Pile height	4mm
Year of manufacture	1920
Colour	Rust red
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

This rug comes from Sarough (also written 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. In Sarough, Persian patterns of every kind are knotted, in part also to the customer's own specifications. Particular favourites are the neighbouring Farahan patterns as well as the region's own Sultanabad designs and 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 usually cotton, however. In old and antique rugs you will often find a blue weft thread. The knotting is very fine and the pile relatively high. This antique Sarough is a collector's piece. It is around 100 years old, and that alone makes it a truly special piece. Antique rugs like this Sarough are as popular 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 Sarough are elegant and wonderfully varied. The graceful plant symbols, depicting blossoms, leaves and branches, are artfully intertwined.

The background of this Sarough is rust red. The border is designed in dark blue and rust red.

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this Sarough. It has had owners before you who valued and used it. It was hand-knotted around 1920. It has been cleaned thoroughly and is in good, but unrestored, condition. The pile is heavily worn. The fringes could do with a repair. The edges are damaged in places. We have not restored this Sarough because we feel it has a special charm just as it is. If that is what you would like, we will of course happily restore the rug for you. Either way, this Sarough will give you pleasure for decades to come.

Material

The pile of this Sarough 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 wool's natural lanolin content, the surface repels droplets of water and is thus 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 Sarough are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and elastic and therefore particularly well suited to a hard-wearing foundation.