Craft comparison

Under review

Termeh vs Rasht embroidery (Rasht-duzi)

ترمه · رشتی‌دوزی

Termeh: A patterned Iranian brocade woven with supplementary wefts, historically in silk and wool, associated above all with Yazd and Kerman. Rasht embroidery (Rasht-duzi): A northern Iranian needlework tradition associated with Rasht in Gilan, combining wool felt or broadcloth appliqué with chain-stitch embroidery for covers, hangings and saddle cloths.

Side by side

TermehRasht embroidery (Rasht-duzi)
Persian nameترمهرشتی‌دوزی
CategoryTextiles · BrocadeTextiles · Appliqué and chain-stitch embroidery
Materialssilk, wool, natural-dyeswool, silk
Techniquessupplementary-weft-brocadesurface-embroidery
Regionskerman, yazd—
Periodssafavid, qajar, contemporaryqajar, pahlavi, contemporary
Motifsboteh, eslimi-arabesqueboteh, eslimi-arabesque
Current vitalityAt riskAt risk

What they share

  • Materials: silk, wool
  • Motifs: boteh, eslimi-arabesque
  • Periods: qajar, contemporary

How to tell them apart

  • Materials such as natural-dyes point towards Termeh.
  • Termeh typically involves supplementary-weft-brocade.
  • Rasht embroidery (Rasht-duzi) typically involves surface-embroidery.
  • The stated place of making is a useful clue, but never proof on its own.

Read more

Disclaimer

This comparison is educational and built from entries still under review. It cannot confirm what a particular object is.