Quchan Rug

Quchan Rug
Design of Ghoochan Rug (Rugman)
General information
Name	Ghoochan Rug
Original name	قالی قوچان
Alternative name(s)	Ghoochan Carpet
Origin	Iran: Khorasan
Category	Village, City
Technical information
Common designs	Medallion, Geometric
Common colors	Red, Blue, Brown, Beige, Ivory, Green
Dyeing method	Natural, Synthetic
Pile material	Wool
Foundation material	Cotton, Wool
Knot type	Symmetrical (Turkish)

Ghoochan Rug origins in Ghoochan City is located in northwestern Iran, just southwest of Mashad. In medieval times it was known as Khabooshan and Khoojan. Today Ghoochan is an important collection point for Kurdish and Afshar tribal and village rugs. An area rug woven in Ghoochan will often feature the same designs as those produced in other locations in the northwest, with Caucasian Kurdish rugs, and with Afshar rugs. Both Persian and Turkish knots may be used to weave Ghoochan rugs and the only way to tell which knot was used on a particular area rug is to carefully inspect the back. The average KPSI (knots per square inch) on a Ghoochan rug is approximately 120.

History

Gholtogh is a tribe named after a village located in the Zanjan Province of northwestern Iran. Rugs from Gholtogh are known in the market from the early twentieth century. They are categorized under the MOSUL RUGS group in the old market.
By the late twentieth century some Gholtogh weavers changed from making traditional designs to producing rugs similar to those of other cities and villages in the region in accordance with domestic and foreign export demand.

Materials

Foundation and Pile

The rugs have a cotton foundation and a wool pile. They are characteristically durable, since the rugs were woven tightly, with a double weft.

Techniques and structures

Color and dyeing

Colors used for the background, medallions, and borders are reds, dark blue, and ivory. In addition to these colors, different shades of blue, brown, green, and camel were used for the inner borders, design elements, and outlines.

Motifs and Designs

Gholtogh rugs are geometric and most often have a medallion layout. The design characteristics of many Gholtogh rugs are a large hexagonal medallion with a second, smaller medallion in the center. Often, the larger medallion extends to the top and bottom horizontal borders. The designs are tribal, with flower heads, Star motifs, lozenge shapes surrounded by Hook motifs, animals, birds, and other primitive designs covering the field and medallions. At times, the Boteh (paisley) or Herati (fish) appears in the medallion or background.

Bibliography

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