Carpet comparison only. This photograph does not resolve knot type or a density measurement; source qualifications remain below.
Listing image, 2025 · Arabesque Rugs (photographer not stated) · Permission status not reviewed · Photo source ↗
Spelling and pronunciation
- Persian: رج
- Transliteration: raj
- English usage: Raj (knot row count)
Spellings vary between dealers, museums and regions. Usage notes are under review.
How the term is used
A knot-count unit used mainly in Tabriz: the number of knots along about 7 cm of the rug's width.
Common confusions
It cannot be compared directly with KPSI or other regional units without converting.
Keep the measurement convention
Raj can describe a linear count over a conventional length, commonly about seven centimetres in some markets. State the actual dealer convention. A linear figure and knots per square inch are not interchangeable.
Record length, direction and sampling location, and distinguish estimate from direct count. Horizontal and vertical densities can differ; compression, repair and uneven spacing may make one sample unrepresentative. One number cannot supply a reliable universal area conversion.
Compare the evidence
| Object or term | What to examine | Limit of the evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Linear count | Stated length and direction | Not area density. |
| Area count | Both dimensions | Needs specified units. |
| Dealer estimate | Method and sampling | Not a measured universal grade. |
Practical questions
- Can one raj figure give area density?
- Not reliably without the counting convention and density in both directions.
Sources and further reading
- Encyclopaedia Iranica · Carpets
Weaving vocabulary and historical context; not object authentication or valuation.
Editorial draft awaiting specialist review. References provide context, not verification of every statement, object attribution or current workshop access.
Used in these crafts
The workshop carpet tradition of Tabriz in East Azerbaijan, characterised by drawn cartoons, a distinctive hook-knife weaving method and a wide range of fineness grades.