Antique Persian Karaja Rug

Origin: Karaja (Qarajeh) village, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran.

Age: 1930s, ~90-100 years old.

Design: Karaja rugs are immediately recognizable by their bold geometric designs, usually featuring the three medallions in a style and format like this piece. Karaja is approximately 30 miles northeast from Tabriz and surrounded by other well known weaving villages of the Heriz district, which is apparent in their style. Surrounding the medallions, the field is absolutely packed with symbols of life and abundance. Blooming flowers, pomegranates, stars, serrated leaves, abstract fish, birds, and more are surrounded by an interior border of battlements. Five additional thin borders of flowers and vines surround a main border of palmettes with geometric eyes flanked by boteh (seed of life). Looking at this rug is like cloud watching -- you'll see something new every time.

Colors: All natural plant dyes that are incredibly saturated and have a significant variation in color from small batch lots. Shades of blue from Indigo (indigofera tinctoria, also known as true indigo.) Shades of brick red and coral from madder root (rubia tinctorum, or dyer’s madder). Yellow has several possible sources including pomegranate rind, onion skins, vine leaves, and weld (reseda luteola). Greens and teals from overdying blue and yellow. Orange from overdying red and yellow. Natural undyed ivory and brown. Black/brown probably from dark wool also dyed with indigo and/or walnut husk. Excellent use of dye variation (abrash) from different dye lots.

Foundation: Cotton warp and single cotton weft, double selvage wrapped in wool.

Pile: Very densely knotted wool pile of superior quality, with a medium depth.

Knotting: Symmetrical.

Size: 5 feet by 6 feet.

Condition: Excellent condition, with the original sides and ends including the original warp loops on the bottom. (Warp loops are formed on the bottom from wrapping a continuous warp thread around something like a nail when setting up the loom -- only the top would be cut, leaving the typical fringe appearance on the top side.) Very tiny amount of corner wear on the bottom left. Freshly washed.