Malayer rugs: village weaving between Hamadan and Arak

Location

Malayer is a town in Hamadan province. Rugs sold under this name come from surrounding villages and sit between the Hamadan and Arak weaving areas.

Construction

Many Malayers use the symmetric knot and a single weft, like Hamadan rugs, while others use two wefts like Sarouks. That mix is one reason attribution is often uncertain.

• Cotton foundation
• Often symmetric knots
• Single or double wefts
• Medium pile

Designs

Common designs include small medallions, all-over herati or boteh patterns and runners with repeating motifs. Colours are often red, navy and ivory, with camel-hair grounds in some pieces.

Malayer versus Hamadan

Malayer rugs are often finer and more carefully drawn than everyday Hamadan village rugs, but there is no single test. Sellers sometimes use the name loosely for any good Hamadan-area rug.

Buying checklist

• Ask the seller what the regional name is based on: town, village group or design only
• Turn the rug over and look at knot type, warp colour and weft count
• Check ends, sides and pile height for wear or re-weaving
• Ask whether dyes have run or been chemically washed
• Count knots on the back over a measured area and note single or double wefts
• Get any claim about age, region or handmade origin in writing

Care

Single-weft rugs can be less stable at the edges. Have loose side cords re-overcast early to stop fraying.

A note on this guide

This is general information from the CraftPersia editorial team and has not been reviewed by a specialist. Regional names in the rug trade are market labels, and design alone is weak evidence of origin. This guide is not a valuation or authentication.