Wiss | 332 x 308 cm | Nr. 13852

Geometric Wiss, dark red with border and medallion

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	332 cm x 308 cm (= 10.23 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	120.000
Pile height	10mm
Year of manufacture	1975
Colour	Dark red, dark blue
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

 

Origin

This rug was hand-knotted in the small town of Wiss in the so-called Sarough region. Wiss lies on the road from Arak to Isfahan in western Iran. Almost every private household in Wiss has a knotting loom. Sturdy rugs with traditional patterns are knotted here. Typical of rugs from Wiss is the dominant hexagon as the medallion in the central field, framed above and below by a hooked lozenge.

The pile of Wiss rugs is traditionally dyed with madder-red plant dyes – obtained from the root of the madder plant (Rubia tinctorium).

 

Pattern

The abstract, geometric composition is what gives this Wiss its understated elegance. The pattern flatters the design of the room and never steals attention from the furniture, the décor and the architectural details. It settles beautifully into any setting and subtly complements the furnishings of a room.

The edge of the rug is framed by a decorative border. The border forms a beautiful contrast with the centre.

In the middle of the central field of this Wiss 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 surface of this Wiss has a mottled look. The shifts in tone and the light-and-dark shadings of the pile yarn make the colours shimmer and keep the rug forgiving of dirt. These so-called colour shifts, known as abrash, give the rug a livelier feel. The mottling comes about because the wool of this Wiss was hand-spun. During dyeing, the natural pigments are absorbed to differing degrees.

The background of this Wiss is dark red. The border is worked in beige, blue-grey and dark blue. In the blue-grey centre, light red and beige are combined.

 

Condition

This Wiss has a story to tell. It was hand-knotted around 1975. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good but unrestored condition. The pile has grown a little thinner over the years. The edges of the rug are damaged in places and could do with a repair. We haven't restored this Wiss because we feel it has a special charm just as it is. If that's what you'd like, we'll of course happily restore the rug for you. Either way, this Wiss will bring you joy for decades to come.

 

Material

The pile of this Wiss 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 natural lanolin content of 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 dampens sound. The weft and warp threads of this Wiss are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and stretchy, which makes it particularly well suited to a hard-wearing foundation.