Zagheh Rug

Zagheh Rug
Design of Zagheh Rug (Rugman)
General information
Name	Zagheh Rug
Original name	قالی زاغه
Alternative name(s)	Zagheh Carpet
Origin	Iran: Hamadan
Category	Village
Technical information
Common designs	Medallion, Herati, Geometric
Common colors	Red, Blue, Navy Blue, Beige, Green
Dyeing method	Natural, Synthetic
Pile material	Wool
Foundation material	Cotton
Knot type	Symmetrical (Turkish)

Zagheh rugs are hand-woven Persian tribal carpets made in the Kurdish nomadic districts of Northeastern Iran. Zagheh is the name given to a group of nomadic people living in the surrounding area of Hamadan. The bright colors and geometric shapes are typical of tribal weaving from this area of Iran. A rug such as this takes a nomadic woman, sometimes working with her daughter, several months of concentrated weaving to complete on a crude loom on the ground outside the family tent. Most rugs woven by tribal people are intended for their own use as floor coverings or sleeping mats. Sometimes, they are put away as security for a day when it may be necessary to trade them in at nearby villages or cities for more practical goods. An authentic and durable work of art, this beautiful rug will last a very long time keeping a room exotic as well as cozy.

History

Zagheh is a village in the Hamadan Province of western Iran. The village has mostly a Kurdish population. Zagheh rugs are known in the market from the first quarter of the twentieth century. The weavings are categorized as part of the Hamadan mosul rugs group.
Zagheh rugs have semigeometric designs in a medallion or allover style. The fields feature the traditional Botch (paisley) or Herati (fish) patterns. In the center is a small pendant-shaped medallion, which is also quartered and placed in each corner of the field. The main border design generally contains large stylized flower heads surrounded by leaves, flowers, and vines. Zagheh weavers use border designs from the neighboring Hamadan villages.
The rug field colors are mostly dark blue, with a small percentage of reds or ivory. The borders generally feature an ivory ground.
Zagheh rug formats range from small mats to rugs approximately seven feet by four feet six inches. Runners are made up to seventeen feet in length. In rare instances, room sizes can be found in the market. The rugs have a cotton foundation and a wool pile. The Turkish (symmetric) knot is always employed. The weave quality is medium to good in grade.
Early Zagheh rugs measuring approximately seven feet by four feet can have a market value up to $5,000. By the last quarter of the twentieth century, some Zagheh weavers switched from using local traditional designs to produce styles similar to those of other areas to meet the demand of domestic and foreign export consumers.

See also

Search for Zagheh Rug on Wikipedia.

Bibliography

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