The dominating color in the older rugs is a dark shade of red. The secondary color is usually a variety of red tones tending towards orange. Green is almost always used as an accent. In keeping with the color tends in western countries, the newer pieces have lighter colors on an ivory background. The dyes used in these rugs are 100% natural. Karaja rugs have very unique patterns that are different from the other rugs produced in this region. The field is covered with a repeating medallion design and all of the medallions have a very simple, geometric shape.
Amazing antique Turkish Oushak rug, circa 1930 in excellent condition. Measure: 5'4" x 7'8".
Ushak rugs have been in production since the 15th century with superb wool and natural dyes. Unlike other Turkish rugs, Ushak rugs influenced after Persian rugs and the woven with Ghiordies knots and all double knotted, their design is feature intricate motifs of vines and leaves and typically based on geometric motifs.
Oushak carpets are long-time favourites among admirers of antique Ottoman rugs.
Striking antique Kermanshah rug, circa 1880. Pictural scene of three of life surrounded with birds and fish trees and plants.
The rug has a very fine weave and pleasant colors.
Kirman was a very important antique rug weaving center dating from the Golden Age of Persian culture under the Safavid Dynasty in the 16th century, on a par with Tabriz and Kashan in esteem. The color palette of Laver Kirman antique Persian rugs is unusually soft and delicate with a European grace.
Antique Persian Serapi rug, Persia, circa 1900. This remarkable and artistic antique rug, showcases an ornate, multicolored central design. At the heart of the antique Persian Heriz Serapi rug, a many-petaled flower is surrounded by a 12-pointed stellar shape in light and dark blue. Angular stylized flowers stud the navy form and are echoed across the red medallion that encases it. Four ornaments decorate the corners of the medallion, and floral adornments nestle within each tip. A rust red field, brimming with botanical decorations, extends the medallion’s shape.
Storm pattern Navajo Rug, c-1930 in excellent condition.
The Storm Pattern is not built around a central diamond, but is a very recognizable geometric composition with a strong, often rectangular central element connected by diagonal stepped lines to elements in each of the four corners. This design is said to be highly symbolic and associated with the all-important rainstorms in the growing season. Individual components include representations of the Navajos’ four sacred mountains, lightning bolts, snowflakes and water-bugs. Storm Pattern rugs are woven in an unlimited variety of colors.
The weavers preferred to use natural wool from their sheep rather than the commercially produced wool used by other Navajo weavers. After the wool was carded together it was spun very fine, sometimes even as fine as thread. These threads allowed the weavers to weave more wefts to the linear inch, which created a textile of a much higher quality than other Navajo weavings.
45" x 75" Unusual Eye-dazzler Navajo Rug, c-1890 in excellent condition,
A classic Navajo rug circa 1890's in excellent condition. Homespun native wool with natural wool colors, vegetal dye.
The Iranian city of Isfahan has long been one of the centres for production of the famous Persian carpet, 3'7" x 5'4". Isfahani carpets are known for their high quality. The most famous workshop in Isfahan is Seirafian.
Weaving in Isfahan flourished in the Safavid era. But when the Afghans invaded Iran, ending the Safavid dynasty, the craft also became stagnant.
The high knot density antique carpets in which Isfahan excelled continued to be woven in the late 19th and 20th centuries, maintaining the original inspiration and attention to refinement and detail.