Provenance and Workshop Heritage

Tabriz is one of the most enduring workshop cities of the Persian rug tradition. By the mid-twentieth century, alongside the city's fine atelier production, a parallel body of more workmanlike pieces emerged — generous formats, wool pile, classical compositions worked at a relaxed knot density for daily use rather than collector display. This particular piece began life as a vividly coloured workshop Tabriz and was later colour-reformed by an overdye and wash process — a deliberate contemporary finishing in which the original saturated palette is muted down into the soft, low-contrast tones that modern interiors find easier to live with.

This piece was hand-knotted in Tabriz, north-western Iran, in the 1950s to 1960s, from 100% wool on a cotton foundation, at approximately 30 raj — the workshop standard for mid-century Tabriz domestic production. The pile sits low after decades of life and the finishing process, giving a flat, even surface.

Colour and Composition

The composition is the classical Tabriz repertoire — a floral medallion, surrounding field, and a measured border. The overdye-and-wash finishing has reduced the original colours to a muted, low-contrast palette: beige and sand carry the field, with the design still legible in quiet taupe and tan. The result reads as a calm, harmonious surface rather than a graphic statement — a neutral canvas that anchors a room while letting other elements take the lead.

Presence in the Room

At 274 × 198 cm (6.5 × 9.0 ft), 5.4 m² this is a generous medium room-size piece. Three contexts in which the muted Tabriz reaches its full effect:

• Living room as a quiet anchor: the soft palette settles a contemporary seating group without competing with strong architectural lines or modern furniture.
• Bedroom in front of the bed: the low wool pile and the muted surface give a master bedroom a warm, restful foundation.
• Reception or study: classical floral medallion in muted tones signals discreet quality — strong architectural lines, soft underlying rhythm.

Specifications

Label STEP — Responsible Sourcing

Djoharian is a Label STEP certified dealer for fair-trade knotted rugs — a commitment to dignified working conditions and against child labour in rug production. Visit the Label STEP entry for Djoharian Teppiche →

Djoharian — Since 1967

Founded in 1967, with roots in the Grand Carpet Bazaar of Tehran and more than five decades of experience in the international rug trade. Every piece is inspected and professionally washed in our atelier in Lohr am Main before secure, fully insured worldwide shipping.