Farahan | 216 x 140 cm | Nr. 19813

Farahan

Delivery time	2 days
Origin	Persia
Dimensions	216 cm x 140 cm (= 3.02 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool
knots	250.000
Condition	pre-owned, cleaned & partially restored
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

Farahan is a district in the central Iranian province of Markazi. It gave its name to a classic floral pattern found on rugs from the Mahallat region around the town of Sultanabad.

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.

These rugs — also called Mahal, Ziegler-Mahal or simply Ziegler — were knotted in the surrounding villages to Western colour and pattern specifications. The blend of European design briefs in lighter, calmer colouring 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 not least by the so-called DOBAG initiative. At first the reproductions focused on the Ziegler rugs described above. In time, almost every traditional Persian pattern was being reproduced. The result: adaptations of antique rugs alongside contemporary designs with the charm of an antique piece.

Material

The pile of this Farahan was hand-knotted from high-quality new wool. New wool is obtained by shearing sheep gently. New wool is a renewable, natural raw material with a whole range of impressive qualities: thanks to the natural lanolin in the wool, the surface repels droplets of water and is therefore naturally protected against dirt. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, helps regulate the indoor climate and absorbs sound.

The weft and warp threads of this Farahan are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and elastic, which makes it particularly well suited to a hard-wearing foundation.

Condition

This Farahan has had admirers before you. It was knotted around 106. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good, though only partially restored, condition. The pile has grown only a little thinner over the years and is torn in one place over a length of about 3 cm. The edges and fringes of the rug have also suffered somewhat in places and could do with a repair. We have not fully restored this Farahan because we feel it has a special charm just as it is. If that is what you would like, we will of course carry on restoring the rug for you. We can bring almost any rug back to near-perfect condition.