Meshkin rugs: geometric village rugs near Ardabil

Location

Meshkin Shahr lies at the foot of Mount Sabalan in Ardabil province, in an area with Shahsavan pastoral groups.

Designs

Long rugs with two or three stepped medallions in a row, in red, blue and ivory, are typical.

Construction

Wool or cotton foundations with symmetric knots and a medium pile.

Meshkin versus Ardabil

Meshkin rugs are usually coarser and bolder; Ardabil rugs are more finely drawn. The difference is a tendency, not a rule.

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
• Get any claim about age, region or handmade origin in writing

Care

Long runners take uneven traffic. Turn them end to end 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.