Goravan Rug

Goravan Rug
Design of Goravan Rug (Rugman)
General information
Name	Goravan Rug
Original name	قالی گراوان
Alternative name(s)	Goravan Carpet
Origin	Iran: East Azerbaijan
Category	Village
Technical information
Common designs	Medallion, Geometric
Common colors	Blue, Red, Beige
Dyeing method	Natural, Synthetic
Pile material	Wool
Foundation material	Cotton
Knot type	Symmetrical (Turkish)

Goravan rugs originate from Goravan, a small village in northwestern Iran, in close proximity to Heriz. The design, color, and quality of a Persian carpet from Goravan is so entirely identical to a Persian carpet from Heriz, that even experts in the field have great difficulty telling them apart. Although Heriz is the better known area, a Persian carpet woven in Goravan is every bit its equal. Typically, Goravan rugs are woven with a special Turkish symmetrical double knot that is dense and tightly packed, although occasionally the asymmetrical Persian knot is used.

History

Goravan is a village located near the famous weaving town of HERIZ in the East Azerbaijan Province of northwestern Iran. The population is Azeri tribe in origin, and they speak a Turkic dialect. Goravan carpets are woven in the Heriz design style and are grouped under the Heriz carpet name. Production in Goravan began when the demand for Heriz carpets grew in the world market-place during the early twentieth century. Goravan carpets are known in the market from the 1900s.
The rugs and carpets have a cotton foundation and a wool pile. The Turkish (symmetric) knot is used. Goravan carpet designs are geometric, with either a medallion or an allover style. In general these carpets are well known for having a large center medallion with medallion sections in the corners. The designs feature large stylized palmettes, leaves, and vines with primitive nomadic motifs and ornaments. Starting in the 1920s the Heriz carpet fashion was to crowd the field with various design motifs; Goravan weavers also followed this practice. Goravan carpets can be identified from other weaves in the Heriz group by their lower grade quality, which met the need in the market for lower-budget domestic and foreign consumers. After World War II a great quantity of Goravan carpets was produced for export to the world markets.
The coloration, in general, is a deep red for the background and dark blue for the border. In addition, reds, blues, ivory, cinnamon, camel, and browns are used in the design elements. Dark brown or black is used for the design outlines.
The formats range from small mats to carpets approximately fourteen feet by ten feet. A majority of Goravan weavings were made in the standard twelve feet by nine feet format for the American market. Goravan carpets are medium in grade quality.

See also

Search for Goravan Rug on Wikipedia.

Bibliography

• Abraham Levi Moheban. 2015. The Encyclopedia of Antique Carpets: Twenty-Five Centuries of Weaving. NewYork: Princeton Architectural Press.