Yalameh Rug

Yalameh Rug
Design of Yalameh Rug (Rugman)
General information
Name	Yalameh Rug
Original name	قالی یلمه
Alternative name(s)	Yalameh Carpet
Origin	Iran: Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari
Category	Village
Technical information
Common designs	Medallion, Geometric
Common colors	Crimson, Navy Blue, Yellow, Cream, White, Black, Brown
Dyeing method	Natural, Synthetic
Pile material	Wool
Foundation material	Cotton, Wool
Knot type	Symmetrical (Turkish)

Yalameh carpet or Yalameh rug is a village rug that is woven in Yalameh region located in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province in the center of Iran. These rugs are employed symmetrical knots with cotton, wool, and silk materials. The designs of these rugs are medallion and geometric, and the colors are Crimson, Navy Blue, Yellow, Cream, White, Black, and Brown.

History

Yalameh is a subtribe of the Lori population in Iran. The Lori, also called "Lor," is the oldest tribe known in the country. Over the centuries, the Lori population has spread from the west central region to the Persian Gulf in southwestern Iran. The Yalameh is mostly settled in the northern portion of central Iran.
Yalameh rugs are known in the carpet market from the second quarter of the twentieth century.
The designs are geometric and strongly influenced by Lori patterns. The designs are allover or medallion in style. The allover pattern generally has square compartments featuring palmettes or diamond shapes edged by Hook motifs surrounded by tribal design elements. The medallion style has several lozenge or hexagonal shapes also edged by hooks. The medallions are placed on a field, at times surrounded by tribal motifs and flower heads. The main border design generally has alternating polychrome palmettes, leaves, or vines.
The rugs have a wool foundation and a wool pile. The Turkish (symmetric) knot is employed. Yalameh background and border colors are reds, blues, ivory, and browns. In addition to these, different shades of green, gray, gold, and cinnamon are used in the design elements.
Formats range from mats up to carpets in twelve by nine feet room sizes. A small percentage of runners are produced in a variety of lengths. The weavings are generally good to very good in grade quality.
Yalameh rugs and carpets were marketed successfully to Western European consumers because the weavers were able to produce rugs in both tribal dimensions and standard European room sizes. The Yalameh nomadic designs and fine wool helped increase their popularity.

See also

Search for Yalameh Rug on Wikipedia.

Bibliography

1. Abraham Levi Moheban. 2015. The Encyclopedia of Antique Carpets: Twenty-Five Centuries of Weaving. NewYork: Princeton Architectural Press.