A Palatial Mahal Sarouk, circa 1950

This piece comes from the Mahal region around Arak in central Iran — one of the most renowned weaving centres of the country and home to the Mahal, Sultanabad and Sarouk weaving cluster. The mid-twentieth century marks a high point of Persian knotting craftsmanship, an era in which experienced master weavers committed floral medallions with botanical precision into hand-spun wool.

This semi-antique example, roughly 75 to 85 years old, shows the open-field Sarouk drawing at its most confident: a central diamond medallion with floral pendants suspended on a largely open ground, floral-filled corner spandrels, and a broad, multi-band blossom border. The patina of decades of light and use gives the wool a depth that no new production can replicate.

Colour and Composition

The palette is built on a warm rust-red open field — the dominant ground — with the central medallion and border accents drawn in deep navy and indigo. The floral work carries salmon, soft rose, ivory and muted green, the saturations softened by decades into a balanced, lived-in register. The largely open field is the hallmark of fine Sarouk drawing: the medallion is allowed to breathe, rather than competing with an all-over pattern.

Presence in the Room

At 380 × 540 cm (20.5 m²) this is a true palatial format — a rug woven for grand reception halls, ballrooms and stately lobbies. Three contexts in which the piece reaches its full effect:

• Grand reception room: Beneath a historic chandelier, with gilt furniture and brocade, the Mahal carries the full palatial weight.
• Modern open-plan loft: In a minimal interior, the semi-antique piece creates a striking dialogue between tradition and contemporary architecture.
• Luxury hospitality: Hotel foyers, boutique-hotel lobbies or representative conference rooms — the rust-and-navy palette signals quality and history from the first second.

Specifications

1stDibs Recognised Dealer

Djoharian carries the Recognised Dealer badge on 1stDibs since 2013, with a 5.0/5 verified rating — a standard of authentication and presentation that serious collectors and design professionals can rely on.

Responsible Origin · Label STEP

Djoharian is a certified partner of Label STEP, the international fair-trade organisation for hand-knotted rugs. STEP audits production conditions on the ground — wages, working environment, no child labour — and tracks pieces from loom to dealer.

Djoharian — Since 1967

Our family business was founded in 1967, with roots in the Grand Carpet Bazaar of Tehran. Five decades of trade and connoisseurship inform every piece we offer — collected, vetted, and presented with the documentation a serious collector expects.

Service

Secure and fast worldwide shipping, fully insured. Each piece is professionally packed and documented. We are available for any questions on placement, care, or comparable pieces.