Persian
Rugs the O'Connell Notes
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The city of Birjand
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Carpet Industry
in Birjand,
A City in the Southern part
of Khorasan Province,
Iran
(As of May 29th 2004 Birjand
is now the Administrative Center of the new Province of Southern
Khorasan)
By Ehsan Afzalzadeh Naini
Translated from Persian by Fereidoun Haghighi
http://www.iranrugco.ir
Birjand city once was one of the important cities
in Ghehestan (an old name for Khorasan Province) centuries ago. The
city is located in the southern part of khorasan and its distance from
Tehran, the capital of Iran, is 1309 kilometers. Its neighboring cities
from North are Ghaen, Ghonabad, from East neighboring country
Afghanistan, from South Zahedan, Kerman, Zabol, and from West Tabas,
and Ferdous. The climate in Birjand region varies in a way that in the
South the weather is hot and in the mountainous North it is moderate.
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Carpet Weaving in Birjand
Birjand's carpet is famous and is known internationally
as "Mood Carpet". Mood is the name of a region in Birjand and the
carpet weaving style is unique in that region, the style is also
practiced in other cities such as Nehbandan, Ghaen and part of Ferdous.
In addition, most of the rugs, in the region, are woven in the villages
around Birejand.
The History of Carpet
Weaving in Birjand
Although the history of carpet weaving is not documented in Birjand by
historians, but because of its special geographical situation in the
area and the influence of important native carpet producers who
happened to be government officials too, by no means the history of
carpet waving is less historic than other parts of Khorasan.
Based on some studies that were performed regarding the early days of
the rug production in the area, one can assume that the history of
carpet weaving goes back to at least to 200 years ago, and according to
the same study in some villages around Birjand, the existence of carpet
even goes further back. The two most prominent villages "Mood" and
"Derakhsh" are very famous villages, in terms of quality carpet
productions near Birjand city, which is situated in Eastern part of
Iran and in Southern part of Khorasan Province the largest Province in
country. Between the years 1931 to 1941 the carpet industry in Birjand
really picked up its fame and in spite of their monotonous design they
possessed good quality and were the preferred choice over other carpets
woven in khorasan Province.
Birjand has always played an important rule in carpet industry in Iran
and because of that almost all the carpet historians and researchers'
referred to carpet weaving in Birjand in one way or another in the past
time and among them Cecil Edwards in his book "Iran's Carpet" has
written extensively about it.
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Inside a Carpet Workshop in Birjand
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In Iran adults weave and children go to school,
you can see it in the healthy faces of the children.
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Among Iranian historians, Messrs:
Hozuri, Daneshgar, Hussein AzerBad, Heshmati and Zhuleh were those who
introduced the carpet industry in Birjand extensively to the public and
among them the Mr. Zhuleh with his two books: "Bargi az Ghali Khorasan"
translated as "A chapter of carpet weaving in Khorasan", and another of
his book based on the research performed about the Iran's carpet played
and important rule in introducing Birjand carpets.
Before the World War II, in both Birjand and Derakhsh, there were three
to four thousands looms and with the start of the devastating war and
the collapse of the Europeans market, the export of carpet had a
tremendous set back and consequently the quality and the quantity of
the carpets reduced enormously.
However, from the year 1941 with the participation of some individuals
such as Mr. Zahraii, Dr. Ahmadi and Mr. Jamshidi and some others who
were the major quality carpet producers the situation turned around for
good and later Mr. Amini one of the acclaimed businessmen and carpet
producers in the region worked diligently and hard to get back the
reputation of carpet industry in Birjand internationally and for many
years his quality carpets were known as Birjand's trade mark.
Carpets in this region from the design, coloring and weaving point of
view were among the best in Khorasan and the reported number of the
looms in 1993 were more than 14 thousands and created 50 thousands jobs
in the area. |
Master Weavers of Carpet
Industry in Birjand
In the beginning of the current century the price of carpet was
determined by a unique length measurement called "Zar-e" in the region,
which it is defined as the distance between the elbow and the fingers
of an arm, and for many people it was difficult to measure the length
of the carpet that way; therefore, for the first time Haj Mohammad
Samadi a talented man published a book under the name " Carpet Square
Zar-e" in 1930 and made the life easy for the carpet producers in the
Birjand area.
The first significant production line was established in 1946 and
thanks to the efforts of Mr. Amini who for the past 50 years and up to
the recent years had worked exceptionally hard to produce fine carpets
and who meticulously utilized quality raw materials such as natural
colors right from the nature to apply to his carpets in the city of
Birjand.
In addition, his grand and impressive production line was set up
adequately to accommodate many carpet weavers to work and weave in an
acceptable atmosphere in order to produce many carpets simultaneously
all with the same color, size, and design to satisfy the customers
demand worldwide.
Cotton thread that is used in Birjand is called "Rass" and the wool
thread known as "Khame"; in addition, silk is used in some part of the
carpets like the beginning of Toranjes and Lachaks to make the carpets
look pretty. These carpets are known as silk carpets and the best wool
is considered spring Wool which the wool is obtained from the live
animal.
Weaving Specialty in Birjand
KPSI (Knot Per Square Inch): the number of KPSI in most carpets in
Birjand are between 119 to 211 and in some cases maximum 267 KPSI
Knot: the style is Persian asymmetrical knot in which the yarn is
wrapped around only one warp, and then passed behind the adjacent warp
so that it divides the two ends of the yarn. The Persian knot may open
on the left or the right, and rugs woven with this knot are generally
more accurate and symmetrical
Carpet Loom: the loom is vertical and moveable one and it is similar to
the looms from Kerman region
Cheleh Keshi: in Birjand the task is done with famous Persian style
Weft: contemporary carpets in Birjand are woven with two wefts one weft
if fine and another is thick. |
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A small Bazaar in Birjand
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Carpet Dimensions
Carpets in Birjand are woven in small and large sizes. Large sizes in
metric measurement are as follows: 4X6, 3X4, 3.5X4 and 3.5X5
Small sizes in metric measurement are as follows: 2X2, 2X2.5, 2X3,
2.5X3.5 and 3X3.5
Popular Carpet Designs in Birjand
Carpet designing in Birjand region is unique since the margin of the
carpet is as important as the text itself, something that can not be
seen very often in other parts of the country. It is also fair to say
that according to the weavers in the region, the margin in a carpet is
considered to be like the frame of a painting in which a nice fine and
pretty frame will add value to the picture, and in case of a rug it
will add value to text or ground of the rug.
Reiz Mahi Design (Small Fish)
Currently this motif is more popular in the Birjand region and
approximately 80% of total carpet production is woven by applying Reiz
Mahi pattern. This kind of pattern consists of figures like small fish
mixed with plants and flowers. The pattern also can be with or without
the Lachak and Toranj.
Rugs with Lachak and Toranj have a big and beautiful Toranj which
resembles a radiant sun right in the middle of it.
Toranjes in Birjand have special characteristics which made them
popular worldwide. In no region of Iran's carpet industry one could
find the sun pattern weaved in such precision and vividness. According
to some, that is maybe because this land in the past was referring to
as the land of rising sun.
One other reason that this kind of design is popular internationally
because of the variety of colors that are used such as Crème (Custard),
Crimson (Persian Laky or Red), Indigo (Blue), Turquoise, which among
them crème it seems more appealing to the customers. |
Persian Spinning Wheel
Bouteh Jegh-ghei Design
(Bush Aigrette)
This design is considered to be an old pattern in Birjand and currently
not too many weavers or carpet producers implement the design. The
design consists of figures in forms of Pears, Almonds and the likes
which are woven in the form of spread.
Rabbi Saadi Design
The design is one of the most primary and traditional ones in Birjand
and in the Mood district, the pattern is woven mostly in crimson and
the color of pomegranate flower and the style is used by the Birjand
Carpet Company Incorporated. The pattern consists of plants and flowers
and filled with the spiral lines called "Eslimi". These carpets usually
have Toranj and Lachak; however, they are different in each three parts
of the text. Sometimes, Toranj looks like a Samovar (A metal urn with a
spigot, used to boil water for tea and traditionally having a chimney
and heated by several means) which the design is one of the most
traditional ones in the Mood region. |
Nomadic Tribe in Birjand.
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Old Birjand
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Kaleh Asbii Design (The horse head
Design)
The center of the rug, in this design, is decorated with 16 fictitious
winged horses woven in a circle fashion and all over the text is
covered with the plants and flowers. The text color is usually crème or
pale chocolate. In the Lachak of these rugs, there are two back to back
dragoons.
Kheshti Design (brakes)
In this design there is no Toranj or Lachak but the text is covered
with brake like rectangles (Ghab) placed uniformly. They are placed on
the rows and columns, on each Ghab there are figures of flowers,
plants, flowerpot, tree and etc. These rugs are popular among the flour
millers in the Derakhsh region and mostly done in colors like chocolate
and steel.
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Afshan Design (Spread)
Flowers, leaves, branches, trees, birds, animals and eslimi lines
(spiral lines) are popular in this design in which all the figures are
woven in special order and all over the rug and that explains why is
called "spread design". There is one special rug of this kind that is
woven in the city of Birjand, "called seven colors",' which seven
different colors are applied to it.
Moharramat Design
In Persian a color fabric with lines is called "Moharramat".
In rugs of this kind, which are woven in Birjand, there are beautiful
patterns but unfortunately theses days there are not too many of them
to be seen on the looms in the weavers' workshop. |
Birjand Fortress
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A village near Birjand
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The Culture of
Carpet Weaving in Birjand
The carpet weavers in Birjand during their tedious long hours of
artistic work and in order to take the pressure of them and also as a
relaxation technique, they form a choral singing of some poems that
give them energy while weaving. Here are some of the lines:
I hold the shiny Steel comb in my hand,
With every stroke that I make, I remember Farhad (a Persian legend who
was excellent hunter)
I make a hunting-ground in many colors,
With all the mountains, hills, deserts and stones
I weave trees full of blossoms,
Under it grassland of fodder
On top of each tree a nest,
In it sweet-singing birds
…
http://www.iranrugco.ir
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www.PersianCarpetGuide.com
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Antique
Agra Rugs
Antique
Alcaraz Rugs
Antique
Amristar Rugs
Antique
Bakshaish Rugs
Antique
Bessarabian Rugs
Antique
Bezalel Rugs
Antique
Bidjar Rugs
Antique
Bijar Rugs
Antique
Cairene Rugs
Antique
Chinese Rugs
Antique
Ghiordes Rugs
Antique
Hereke Rugs
Antique
Heriz Rugs
Antique
Karabagh Rugs
Antique
Kashan Rugs
Antique
Kerman Rugs
Antique
Khorassan Rugs
Antique
Khotan Rugs
Antique
Konya Rugs
Antique
Oushak Rugs
Antique
Sarouk Farahan
Antique
Serapi Rugs
Antique
Senneh Rugs
Antique
Sultanabad Rugs
Antique
Tabriz Rugs
Antique
Tabriz Haji Jalili Rugs
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