Indian Sarough Mir | 304 x 245 cm | Nr. Z-3002

Indian Sarough Mir, light red with border and all-over pattern (delicate)

Origin	India
Dimensions	304 cm x 245 cm (= 7.448 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	160.000
Pile height	10mm
Year of manufacture	2010
Colour	Light red
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

The pattern of this rug is inspired by the pattern of classic Sarough Mir . This rug, however, was made in India .

The exact date of the origins of Indian rug production is unknown. The first rugs in India were probably made during the cultural flowering of the Mughal dynasty, in the middle of the 16th century. In the middle of the 19th century, with the decline of the Mughal dynasty, Indian rug production fell into crisis. European companies whose sole aim was export to the West took the place of the traditional court workshops. Very similar rugs were produced in different towns, and standardisation began. Today the designs of hand-knotted Indian rugs can hardly be attributed to individual regions any more. Instead, the workshops have specialised in the interpretation of European and traditional Iranian designs, adapted to Western taste. In terms of quality, rugs from India benefit from the long craft tradition and the high quality of Indian materials. This rug comes from Sarough (also Sarouk, Saruk or Sarogh). Sarough is one of the best-known rug-knotting regions of 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 to the customer's own specifications. 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.

Rugs like this one are called Sarough Mir rugs. Framed by a border, the all-over patterned field is adorned with the so-called Mir-i-Boteh pattern. The Mir-i-Boteh pattern consists of a curved almond motif that stands upright and forms a repeating row. Whether shown naturalistically or abstractly, it is instantly recognisable by its bent tip. The shape has often been described as a flame – linked to the fire cult of the Parsees, followers of Zarathustra's teachings – or as a bent palm leaf. It is thought likely that the pattern was inspired by cypress trees. In Europe, the almond-shaped element of the pattern is known as the paisley pattern.

Pattern

The decorated edging (border) forms a wonderful contrast to the centre and shapes the transition at the edge of the rug.

This Sarough Mir has an exceptionally strong character. The labyrinthine background is hypnotic and incredibly detailed. The repeating elements in the central field of this Sarough Mir rug have no specific centre (a so-called repeat pattern). The recurring pattern feels calming, yet never dull. Rugs with the repeat pattern are also described as all-over patterned.

The background of this Sarough Mir is light red. The border is worked in light red and cream white.

Condition

You aren't the first to take a liking to this Sarough Mir. It had owners before you who valued and used it. It was knotted around 2010 . We have cleaned it thoroughly and lovingly restored it. It is therefore – despite its age – in very good condition.

Material

The pile of this Sarough Mir is made from high-quality new wool . New wool is obtained by shearing sheep gently. New wool is a renewable, natural raw material with a range of impressive qualities: thanks to the natural fat content of the wool, the surface repels droplets of water and is therefore naturally proofed against dirt. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, helps regulate the indoor climate and dampens sound. The weft and warp threads of this Sarough Mir are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and stretchy, which makes it especially suited to a hard-wearing foundation.