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Persian Rugs the O'Connell Notes

Antique Farahan Sarouk Rugs & Carpets

Farahan and Farahan Sarouk Rugs and Carpets

Farahan Sarouk Rugs

Farahan rugs were a very esthetically pleasing group. They drew upon a sophisticated design repertoire without the formality of a city workshop carpet. Technically there are a well made carpet and as a rule the dyes were very good. Farahan rugs often used a very attractive copper green called celadon after the Chinese pottery. It would turn brittle over timeand wear away leaving a sculpted look.

Up until W.W.II these carpets represented the best of the Sarouk production. They were attributed to the village of Farahan but were likely made in a number of villages. As with all the Arak Rug types the names are more of a grade than an exact place attribution.

Once the American Sarouk Rugs took off in the marketplace these began to be less common. These pieces are highly desirable in today's market and this one sold for just over 500 dollar per square foot ($74,000) at Sotheby's New York, when it went up for auction in 1998.

These pieces are very similar to the Mohtashem Kashan Rugs in handle and structure. An attribution clue is that that Mohtashem Kashan Rugs have lavender silk selvages and are finer.

AntiqueSarouk Farahan Persian Rug 43272 from Nazmiyal

Antique Sarouk Farahan Persian Rug Christie's Lot 35

Farahan and Farahan Sarouk Rugs and Carpets

Similar rugs

Nehavend Rug W&W

Malayer Rug W&W

The Farahan Region

Farahan takes in the area bordered by Guzan (Jozan) Arak (Sultanabad) Kasan (Kashan) and Qom. Guzan is up against the Hamadan region and the next town west is Malayer. A Malayar is in the Hamadan family of rugs with single wefts and Turkish knots while just a few miles away a Guzan (Jozan) is in the Saruk family with double wefts and Persian knots.

Old Farahan rugs are medium fine

Old Sarouk Rugs are fine

Farahan Structure

Warps: Cotton 6 strand. Undyed (white).

Wefts: 1 rigid and 1 sinuous weft.

Knot: Asymmetric open left. 90 KPSI

Selvage: Surmey blue wool wrapped around 3 warp units.

Handle: Leather hard handle

Farahan, Persia. Circa 1870 - 1880.

Notes: Wade explained that this was close to "Pure Farahan" but not exactly true to the old style.

This is about 1/2 inch across of the rug magnified.

Farahan, Persia. Circa 1870 - 1880.

Size:
Structure: Symmetrical knot. 9 knots per horizontal inch and 12 knots per vertical inch. 108 per square inch (1674 per square decimeter)
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: 4 ply to 6 ply cotton.
Weft: 2 shots 3 ply white cotton small area of 3 ply blue in sample rug..
Pile: 2 wool singles.
Ends: not original in sample.
Selvages: reinforced selvage 2 warp units reinforced with with extra maroon selvage yarn.
Handle: Leather hard handle .
Further Notes: Areas of corrosion, black and celadon green. Areas if apple green showing no corrosion.

This is about 3/4 of an inch across magnified.

Farahan Sarouk, Persia. Circa 1900 - 1910.

Size:
Structure: Asymmetrical knot open right. 11 knots per horizontal inch and 18 knots per vertical inch. 198 per square inch (3069 per square decimeter) Medium depressed
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: 8 ply cotton.
Weft: 2 shots 8 - 12 ply white cotton. One shot rigid and one sinuous.
Pile: 2 wool singles.
Ends: not original in sample.
Selvages: attached interlaced selvage 1 warp unit wrapped with extra maroon selvage yarn.
Handle: Supple handle.
Further Notes: Areas of corrosion, brown. Areas if apple green showing no corrosion.