Sirjan Rug

Sirjan Rug
Design of Sirjan Rug (Rugman)
General information
Name	Sirjan Rug
Original name	قالی سیرجان
Alternative name(s)	Sirjan Carpet (Afshar Rug)
Origin	Iran: Kerman
Category	Village
Technical information
Common designs	Medallion, Geometric
Common colors	Red, Navy Blue, Blue, Cream, White, Pink
Dyeing method	Natural, Synthetic
Pile material	Wool
Foundation material	Cotton, Wool
Knot type	Asymmetrical (Persian), Symmetrical (Turkish)

Sirjan rugs originate from Sirjan, located in the Province of Fars in southern Iran, is the main collection point for the tribal traditional rugs that are produced in the area between Shiraz and Kerman. Strategically situated at the intersection of roads joining the four southern provinces, Sirjan is an important market center. It is also the ancestral home to the Afshari people who have greatly influenced the style of Sirjan rugs. Sirjan is famous for its highly collectable “Sofreh” textile – a small, square shape Kilim type textile that had many practical functions including that of a dining rug. The majority of Sirjan rugs are flat weave, which basically creates a textile without a pile. The technique of flat weaving Sirjan rugs means that no knots are used in the weaving process. Instead the warp strands are used as the foundation and the weft stands are used as both part of the foundation and in creating the patterns. The weft strands are woven through the warp strands. However there are Sirjan rugs that are woven with the symmetrical knot at an approximate density of 100 KPSI (knots per square inch).

Materials

Foundation and Pile

Sirjan Afshar rugs have a wool foundation and a wool pile. After World War II, many weavers from Sirjan switched to a cotton foundation.

Techniques and structures

Color and dyeing

Sirjan Afshar main colors are reds or blues, with a small percentage woven with ivory or browns in the field. In addition, greens, orange, gold, and black arc cmployed in the design clements, borders, and medallions.

Bibliography

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