Taleghan Rug
| Taleghan Rug | |
|---|---|
 Design of Taleghan Rug (Rugman) | |
| General information | |
| Name | Taleghan Rug |
| Original name | قالی طالقان |
| Alternative name(s) | Taleghan Carpet |
| Origin |  Iran: Alborz |
| Category | Village |
| Technical information | |
| Common designs | Medallion, Geometric |
| Common colors | Red, Navy Blue, Cream |
| Dyeing method | Natural, Synthetic |
| Pile material | Wool |
| Foundation material | Cotton |
| Knot type | Symmetrical (Turkish) |
Taleghan is a small town southwest of the city of Tehran, in central Iran. It produces a series of beautiful and carefully constructed handmade rugs, which closely resemble the legendary rugs of Kashan and some other fine rug producing centers in central Iran. Taleghan rugs usually have a traditional floral spray design, with a carefully designed medallion, usually on a background of red, burgundy, or fuchsia. The quality of these rugs is marvelous.
History
Taleghan, also spelled Taleqan, is a weaving town located in the foothills of the Alborz Mountains in the Alborz Province of north central Iran. It is situated seventy-five miles (120 km) northwest of the capital city of Tehran. The rugs are known in the antique market from the late nineteenth century.[1]
Materials
Foundation and Pile
The materials can be all wool, all silk or a precise ratio of the two. The foundation (warp and weft) of the rugs is cotton except in very fine pieces where it is pure silk.
Techniques and structures
Color and dyeing
most Taleghans have dark blue or reds for the workaround and main border coloration. Addition ally, different shades of green, gold, brown, cinnamon and coral are employed in the design elements, medallion, quadrants, and minor borders. Dark brown or black is applied in design outlines.[2]
Motifs and patterns
Taleghan rugs have semigeometric designs in a medallion or allover style. Field designs include dirional Boteh (paisley) or Herati (fish) featuring a variety of tribal motifs. In the medallion style, the center has a lozenge-shaped or hexagonal motif with stylized quadrants in each corner of the field. Taleghan weavers incorporate field and border designs from the HAMADAN and ZANJAN Provinces. Flatwoven KILIM rugs and JAJIM RUGS are also made in geometric, tribal styles.[3]
Weaving techniques
The formars range from small mats to rugs approximately seven feet by four feet six inches; runners are also produced. They have a cotton foundation and a medium to long wool pile tied in the Turkish (symmetric) knot. Taleghan rugs are durably woven and make for long-lasting floor coverings.
By the last quarter of the twentieth century, many Taleghan weavers switched from making traditional designs to produce styles similar to those of other areas to meet domestic and foreign export demand.[4]
See also
Hamadan Rug, Zanjan Rug, Kilim, Jajim
References
Bibliography
Abraham Levi Moheban, (2015), The Encyclopedia of Antique Carpets: Twenty-Five Centuries of Weaving, NewYork: Princeton Architectural Press.