Mashhad carpets: workshop weaving of Khorasan

Background

Mashhad has been a carpet centre for centuries. In the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries large workshops wove medallion and all-over floral carpets in many sizes.

Colours

Mashhad carpets are often associated with deep red or burgundy fields and navy borders, with lighter ivory designs in some modern pieces.

Construction

Many use the jufti (false) knot, tied over four warps instead of two. It speeds up weaving but halves density and can wear faster.

• Cotton foundation
• Asymmetric knots, sometimes jufti
• Soft Khorasan wool
• Large room sizes common

Spotting jufti knots

On the back, jufti knots look like wider knots spanning more warps. A seller should be able to show the back and explain the knotting.

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
• Ask directly whether jufti knotting is used
• Get any claim about age, region or handmade origin in writing

Care

Soft wool wears faster in busy areas. Use thicker underlay under heavy foot traffic and rotate often.

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.