Malayer,
Ardabil
The motifs used in Ardabil rugs, similar
to Caucasian rugs, are predominantly geometric in pattern and
the most common layouts tend to be medallions, multiple connected diamond-shaped medallions, and all-over octagonal shapes;
however, the borders of Ardabil rugs have more motifs and
objects woven in them than Caucasian rugs. The colors are also
lighter.
Ardabil
rugs come in almost all sizes, but most are smaller sizes such
as zar-o-nim (3x5 ft), pardeh (5x8 or 5.5x9 ft)
or runner. The rugs come in
background colors of turquoise, buff, cream, navy and light
green.
Ardabil
Ardabil
Ardabil
is a town located in the province of Azerbaijan in
northwestern Iran. Ardabil is a few miles
south of the border of the country, Azerbaijan, in the
Caucasus region. Rug
weaving has a long history in Ardabil. The name Ardabil is
associated with the well-known Ardabil rug woven in the
16th century now in Victoria and Albert Museum in
London, England.
During the reign of
Safavid Dynasty in the 16th and 17th
centuries similar to other rug weaving centers in Iran, rug
weaving was at its peak in Ardabil; however, during the reign
of Qajar Dynasty (1794-1925) it reached its lowest point. It has been
approximately 80 years since this industry has begun
production again in a limited scale. Ardabil weavers from 80
years ago and especially during World War II, when rug weaving
in Shirvan and other rug weaving areas of the Caucasus had
stopped, borrowed from very successful Caucasian designs and
employed them in their own rugs.
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