Tabriz rugs and carpets usually
have curvilinear patterns. I should also mention that you find some
tribal patterns made in surrounding villages that are sold as Tabriz.
The quality of Tabriz rugs and
carpets varies. The older ones (before 1945) are very good, but
some of the newer Tabriz rugs and carpets have a lower number of
Knots Per Square Inch (KPSI) and they are chemically rather than
vegetable dyed. Tabriz rugs and carpets are highly prized because
they are one of the best-looking carpets in Iran and the world.
Tabriz rugs and carpets come
in different sizes. The majority of them are mi-size (4x6 to 8x10
feet). You can also find large rugs up to 10 x 18 feet.
Dark red and powerful blue
colors predominate, with ivory forming a beautiful contrast. Other
colors such as soft green and blue and brown are found in newer
carpets. Soft wool; thin, tight pile.Warps
is mostly cotton; wefts is either cotton or wool.Inspection
of the back of the carpet is important because the weavers in Tabriz
use both Turkish and Persian knots knots. The quality of the carpet
depends upon the number of knots, which varies, but averages from
around 120 KPSI (30 RAJ) up to 842 KPSI (80 RAJ),
Tabriz, the capital of the northwestern province of Azerbaijan,
has for centuries enjoyed a great reputation as a center of oriental
culture. Its development from a naturally favored oasis at the foot
of the volcano Sahand to today's commercial center, along with descriptions
of its many artists and craftsmen, could fill many volumes. The
tradition that Tabriz was founded in the 8th century by the wife
of Harun al-Rashid does not bear historical scrutiny. The origins
of the town stretch far back into antiquity.
Timur (1336-1405)
Shah Ishmail I (1501-1524)
Founder of Safavid Dynasty
Shah Abbas(1587-1629)
All conquered Tabriz as a fulcrum between east and west and made
it into one of the great cities of their empires, but it was in
Shah Abbas the Great (1587-1629 CE) that Tabriz found its most cultured
patron.
Typical Tabriz Food
Kofteh Tabrizi
The people of Tabriz have been spared the devastation of war and
severe natural catastrophes such as earthquake over the centuries.
In the Middle Ages, Tabriz witnessed a blossoming of the fine arts
that influenced the development of carpet design. Manuscript illuminators,
silk embroiders, miniature painters and metal workers all inspired
the carpet weavers. The early 18th century saw the end of the Safavid
Empire and the decline of the town. Craftsmanship fell into decay.