Sarough | 103 x 67 cm | Nr. Z-1992

Floral Sarough, light red with border and medallion

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	103 cm x 67 cm (= 0.69 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	420.000
Pile height	8mm
Year of manufacture	1985
Colour	Light red
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.

Pattern

The ornate border forms a wonderful contrast with the centre and shapes the transition at the edge of the rug.

At the heart of this Sarough's central field lies the symmetrical centrepiece, 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 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 cream white. Light red also dominates the overall impression. The border is in light red. In the terracotta centre, dark blue and light red are combined.

Condition

This Sarough has a story to tell. It was hand-knotted around 1985. We have cleaned it thoroughly and lovingly restored it. That is why – despite its age – it is in very good condition.

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.