Persian Rugs the O'Connell Notes

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Persian Rugs: Guide to Ardabil Rugs, Ardabil Province, Iran

Quality New Persian Ardabil Rugs and Carpets for Sale

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For Good New Persian Ardabil Rugs at very good prices see my friends at www.RugMan.com
Best wishes,
Barry O'Connell

Meshgin Rug Meshgin Shahr Ardabil Province beginning of 20th C

Meshkin Rugs

Ardabil is an important area for the production of tribal and village rugs. The rugs of the Shahsavan area especially attractive to collectors. There is also a production of Ardabil rugs that tend to look like Persian copies of Caucasian designs. The reason for this is that when the Russians expanded into the Caucasus in the day of the Christian Czars many Shia Moslems moved out of the newly Russian areas and into present day Iran. The major north/south road from the Caucasus bisects Ardabil so many of the refugees settled in Ardabil. So when we see rugs that are a cross between Persian and Caucasian it is perfectly reasonable if they are from Ardabil.

Tribal women in a horse riding competition in Varniab village southwest of Sarein in Ardebil province. This area is known for the Shahsavan tribe and hot mineral springs.

Photo: IRNA

The Bill Price Shahsevan Sumac Bag lot 57

The Moghan Savalan Shahsavan

Two humped camels are nearly extinct in Ardabil Province

Photo: Iran Daily

Mausoleum of Sheikh Safieddin Ardebili

The history of Ardabil is deeply intertwined with Sheikh Safieddin Ardebili and his Safavid descendents. Ardabil was the base of the Safavi clan and the Sufi order that they founded.

Photo: Iran Daily

The Ardabil Carpet

It is hard to discuss Ardabil with out discussing even briefly the Ardabil Carpet(s) . These are actually a pair, one in Los Angeles and the other in England. One popular theory is that this was made for the Mausoleum of Sheikh Safieddin Ardebili. It could have been but I suspect that it was made to be tribute to the Ottoman Turks ad for some reason was never delivered. It would then have been donated to the shrine at a later date.