What is a Mahal carpet?
The Oriental carpets from Mahal were a product of the cottage industry in and around this Northwest Persian village, and were often produced on the family level. Therefore, they use the loose to moderate weave, and somewhat thicker pile, similar to nomadic and tribal rugs.
Where are Mahal rugs made?
Mahal rugs are produced in the town of Mahallat, located in the Arak (Markazi) Province of west central Iran. The rug weaving industry in the region can be traced back for centuries. Due to the location of Mahallat, the area rugs have a Kurdish influence as well as a Turkish influence.
What is a Malayer rug?
The Malayer or Malayir rug comes from the large rug producing region south of Hamadan extending into North Luristan. There is a wide variety of different rug patterns. The rugs are single wefted and range from coarse to finer than most Hamadan rugs. Generally they have thick construction of very good wool.
Are Afghan rugs Persian?
They’re made up of Persian knots and feature vegetable-dyed hand spun Afghan wool. Most Afghan weavers make rugs that are about the same as those they have woven for decades. They are therefore considered a very important aspect of their culture.
How are Persian Mahal carpets similar to Amritsar rugs?
Similar to Amritsar rugs and carpets from India, Persian Mahal rugs were originally conceived and manufactured to specifically appeal to the taste of Western consumers. The large scale, all over design, and use of western color palettes are all characteristics of antique Mahal rugs.
What kind of rugs are in the Mahal Collection?
The Mahal Rug Collection celebrates the timeless style and elegance of ancient Persian area rugs. These richly colored area rugs are marvelous recreations of antique rugs that graced palace floors for centuries.
Which is better a Mahal rug or arak rug?
Mahal rugs tend to have a courser weave, the wool is not as lustrous and the design is not as refined as those that were produced in Arak (Sultanabad). Price is also a factor, since the carpets from Sultanabad are considered better quality and are feature designs that are more interesting.
Where did the Ziegler Mahal rugs come from?
The Ziegler firm produced rugs for the European markets in both locations. Therefore the term Ziegler Mahal or Ziegler Sultanabad refers to the rugs produced in their respected cities.