Difference between revisions of "Arak Rug"
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Only through the mid-reign of Nasser-ed-Din Shah Qajar that Araki carpets begin to get noticeable up to such a degree that some gain international fame.<br> | Only through the mid-reign of Nasser-ed-Din Shah Qajar that Araki carpets begin to get noticeable up to such a degree that some gain international fame.<br> | ||
At this stage, Arak had become a commercial trade route and it brought about suitable conditions for the rehabilitation of merchants and businessmen. For the first time during the reign of Nasser-ed-Din Shah about 1875, merchants of Tabriz started exporting the Araki carpets and its surrounding areas' products.<br> | At this stage, Arak had become a commercial trade route and it brought about suitable conditions for the rehabilitation of merchants and businessmen. For the first time during the reign of Nasser-ed-Din Shah about 1875, merchants of Tabriz started exporting the Araki carpets and its surrounding areas' products.<br> | ||
| − | The outcome of these transactions created such valuable economic conditions that an English company of Swiss origin called Zigler, eagerly established an office in Arak in 1883A.D. (the main office was in Manchester city) According to Cecil Edward’s notes, Oscar-Strauss who was one of the company's employees, suggested the purchasing and storing carpets for foreign markets instead of exchanging the company's assets into | + | The outcome of these transactions created such valuable economic conditions that an English company of Swiss origin called Zigler, eagerly established an office in Arak in 1883A.D. (the main office was in Manchester city) According to Cecil Edward’s notes, Oscar-Strauss who was one of the company's employees, suggested the purchasing and storing carpets for foreign markets instead of exchanging the company's assets into Imperial Russian gold.<br> |
| − | This company and a few others soon set up their own workshops and began to | + | This company and a few others soon set up their own workshops and began to produce Araki carpets.<br> |
| − | As reported by Edwards, for the first time the Araki weavers were provided with the previously dyed and ready to weave skeins (hanks) by Zigler Company. Following this | + | As reported by Edwards, for the first time the Araki weavers were provided with the previously dyed and ready to weave skeins (hanks) by Zigler Company. Following this company's activity over a decade in Arak, other firms also began to move forward in this field.<br> |
The companies which were involved, are listed below: | The companies which were involved, are listed below: | ||
* Thoushand-Chian Company-(New York) It perated in a vast area, but this location has presently been used by finance and gov-ernmental offices, a high school called Tazkieh (Iran-Dokht) and granary (silo) for wheat storage. | * Thoushand-Chian Company-(New York) It perated in a vast area, but this location has presently been used by finance and gov-ernmental offices, a high school called Tazkieh (Iran-Dokht) and granary (silo) for wheat storage. | ||
Revision as of 12:48, 30 July 2020
| Arak Rug | |
|---|---|
 Design of Arak Rug (Rugman) | |
| General information | |
| Name | Arak Rug |
| Original name | قالی اراک |
| Alternative name(s) | Arak Carpet (Sultan Abad) |
| Origin |  Iran: Markazi |
| Category | City |
| Technical information | |
| Common designs | Herati (Fish), Lachak Toranj |
| Common colors | Crimson, Red, Navy Blue, Green, Cream, Beige, Blue |
| Dyeing method | Natural, Synthetic |
| Pile material | Wool, Silk |
| Foundation material | Cotton |
| Knot type | Asymmetrical (Persian) |
Arak Rugs originate from Arak, previously known as Sultanabad, is the capital city in the Province of Markazi, located in west central Iran. A very important region in the making of Persian area rugs, the roots of its commercial rug weaving industry can be traced back to the 17th century. After World War II the Province of Arak became known for a particular style of rug called the Sarouk. These very attractive area rugs, named after a village in the area, typically feature detached floral sprays in an all-over design on a red background. Arak rugs are woven using asymmetrical Persian knots. The quality of the rug is largely dependant on the number of knots per square inch and may vary from rug to rug.
History
Arak, formerly Sultanabad, is a city in west central Iran. Today Arak is the capital city of Markazi Province.[1] The province was the source of much high-quality rug production, on a workshop basis, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.[2]
In this province are several important towns and villages that made carpets and rugs beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, some of which have achieved recognition in the carpet industry worldwide, such as Farahan, Lilihan, Mohajeran, MoshkAbad, Sarouk, and Sultanabad, among many others.[3]
The geographical and ethnic situation of the region were the important factors, which created a favorable condition for carpet production. Further-more, the founders of the new city of Arak initially called for the handicraftsmen of different areas such as Isfahan, Kerman, Kashan and Tabriz. They tried to facilitate proper conditions for the flourishing of various productions including carpet weaving.
According to some evidences, the Kermani, Kashani and Isfahanian designers and weavers had direct influence in the revival of the Araki carpets. The traces of ethnic patterns and designs of these territories could be clearly detected among the Araki carpets.
Only through the mid-reign of Nasser-ed-Din Shah Qajar that Araki carpets begin to get noticeable up to such a degree that some gain international fame.
At this stage, Arak had become a commercial trade route and it brought about suitable conditions for the rehabilitation of merchants and businessmen. For the first time during the reign of Nasser-ed-Din Shah about 1875, merchants of Tabriz started exporting the Araki carpets and its surrounding areas' products.
The outcome of these transactions created such valuable economic conditions that an English company of Swiss origin called Zigler, eagerly established an office in Arak in 1883A.D. (the main office was in Manchester city) According to Cecil Edward’s notes, Oscar-Strauss who was one of the company's employees, suggested the purchasing and storing carpets for foreign markets instead of exchanging the company's assets into Imperial Russian gold.
This company and a few others soon set up their own workshops and began to produce Araki carpets.
As reported by Edwards, for the first time the Araki weavers were provided with the previously dyed and ready to weave skeins (hanks) by Zigler Company. Following this company's activity over a decade in Arak, other firms also began to move forward in this field.
The companies which were involved, are listed below:
- Thoushand-Chian Company-(New York) It perated in a vast area, but this location has presently been used by finance and gov-ernmental offices, a high school called Tazkieh (Iran-Dokht) and granary (silo) for wheat storage.
- East Company. (Ezmiri) It was located near Alakeh ave.
- Ghazan Company. It was situated in the street of Abbas-Abad Bank.
- Telephonian Company. It was located in Saraye-Nozari in Bazar. This firm was in-volved in carpet trade and carpet exports.
- Ghara-Ghozian Company. It was located in about Hejazi street. This company was outstandingly active in carpet production and it had possessed about 2000 carpet looms.
- There were also other companies which were active in carpet dealing and their main work was collecting and purchasing carpets for American markets. They were all located in Bazar. The name of the owners of these companies are as followed below: Salim Shahnian, Khayyatan, Hovasa-eian, Lovan Davoudian, Vajapetsian, Samere-ei Brothers, Chegnian, Tafshanchian, Gharapet Shahnian, Mouchkian, Papazian, Mehrtatian, Asatourian, Ghassabian, Ghoontatian.
Among all these companies mentioned, thoushand-chian company was the most im- portant of all. It was managed by Mr. Tiryakian. He lived in Arak for years. Apparently he had great influence on the development of Araki designs.
These firms had become so powerful and their important role had developed to such an extant that Zigler company made itself the office of consulate of its country in that area. But eventually, this company's trade came to an end and its location was bought by one of the well-known Araki noblemen called, Hadji-Vakil. The location until lately, was known as the Vakil-Fortress.
Most of the mentioned companies had established offices and had employed lots of employees in order to run their carpet trade. They even went so far as to dyeing their own yams and weaving carpets with their own chosen colors and designs.
This trend of carpet producing was carried on until the beginning of the First World War. At this stage, the new customers from America began to come to Iran in search for the Araki carpets.
With the help of some of the mentioned companies, Americans began to spread their influence over the Araki carpets and the surrounding regions. But due to American eco-nomic recession which caused the crisis of the period between 1929-1930, most of the American companies became bankrupt and were forced to leave Iran.
Consequently, Iranian merchants began to get better opportunities to gain control over the Araki carpet trade. Few years later, about 1935, with Semi-nationalization of carpet industry, the production of carpets fell almost totally in the hands of Iranian mer-chants and in the control of "Iran-Carpet- Company".[4]
By the late twentieth century many Arak Province weavers made carpets similar to those from other provincial cities and villages in accordance with the der foreign and domestic consumers.[5]
Great designers of Arak were Isa Bahadori, Asadollah Dahighi, Abdolkarim Rafiei, Asadollah Ghaffari, Hosein and Hasan Tehrani, Jafar Chagani, Zabihollah Abtahi, Asadollah Abtahi, Seyed Hajagha Eshghi (Golbaz), Ezzatollah Ebrahimi, Mohamad Bagheri, Parwiz Minaii, Gholamreza Baderestani and Haj Reza Saiidi.[6]
Materials
Foundation and Pile
Silk pile and silk foundations were frequently used in antique pieces, but rarely seen in new Arak rugs. In general the foundation is cotton, but on occasion goat hair is used. The wool of the area rugs is hand spun, usually from the weaver's own sheep.
Techniques and structures
Color and dyeing
Arak carpets were famous for two colors, Sarouk Dooghi Farahan blue and Mushk-Abad Runasi. In addition to those dominant colors, green, crème and straw yellow colors were used. Using runas (rarely red grains), vine leaf, pomegranates peel and walnut peel were common practices.[7] Arak rugs are predominantly red and navy blue, while green and ivory are prominently used as well.
Motifs and Designs
In the 1920s weavers in this region transitioned away from their traditional designs to those more attuned to the American market.[8]
Arak rugs usually feature one of three major patterns. The most well known is the Herati, featuring small fish throughout the field, with or without a central medallion. The Sarouk is a more curvilinear pattern of intertwined grapevines throughout the field and a round central medallion. The pattern known as Wiss is comprised of three diamonds that make up the central medallion.
Weaving techniques
Arak rugs are woven using asymmetrical Persian knots.
The Arak carpet has Persian knots, and is hand woven. Looms are vertical and the warps are fixed on the loom on the ground. Previously double wefts were used but single thick wefts are now common.
Although 15-20 raj carpets are among the humble, low standard carpets, MushkAbad carpets gain international fame due to their fine dyeing, motifs and good quality wool. This is also seen in better quality carpets (SarouK) of that time with 35-40 and 45 Rajs. SarouKs are woven in Farahan.[9]
See also
References
Bibliography
- Abraham Levi Moheban, (2015), The Encyclopedia of Antique Carpets: Twenty-Five Centuries of Weaving, NewYork: Princeton Architectural Press.
- Ehsan Afzalzadeh Naini, (2005), Arak Carpets, JOZAN: Rug news and antique rugs.
- Shirin Souresrafil, (1996), Sarouk Carpet, Tehran: Mirdashti.
- Peter F. Stone, (2013), Oriental Rugs: An Illustrated Lexicon of Motifs, Materials, and Origins Kindle Edition, North Clarendon :Tuttle