c1920s Antique Fish-Herati Persian Ardabil Rug 6.8x9.9
The city of ARDABIL(ARDEBIL) is located 639 kilometers northwest from Tehran, near the Caspian Sea, and west of the volcanic mount of Sabalan. This district is all-in-all considered mountainous as it is surrounded by the mountains of Talesh and Bozghoosh. The average elevation is more than 3000 meters above sea level. The weather of the province varies during winters between extreme cold on the mountains, to moderate on the plains. Ardabil, however, is considered to be one of the coldest areas in Iran having winters lasting two-thirds of a year. The summers, on the contrast, are extremely hot. Furthermore, this area enjoys geographic and environmental diversity. The name of ArdabilL comes from the Avesta (The sacred book of Zoroastrians). "Artavil" means a tall holy place. Ardabil is said to be the home of one of the oldest carpets in history housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England and measured roughly at 34x17 feet. The most well known Ardabil rug is a rug that is special-ordered by Sheikhsafi. Sheikh Safiaddin Ishagh Ardabili was born in 650 Hegira at Kahralan, a village in Ardabil. His father Aminaddin Jabrail was a farmer who became financially prosperous overtime. He was very well known for his generosity and kindness. The Mausoleum of Sheikh Safi is one the most important historical buildings of Ardabil. It is one of the marvels of architecture and tile works of the 13th century. There were also a lot of rare and exquisite carpets. Two of the most famous among these carpets are known as Sheikhsafi Rugs. The larger one (measures 34x17.5 ft.) is now in Victoria & Albert Museum in England and the smaller one (23.5x13 ft.) is now in Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Some historians trace the establishment of Ardabil to "Bazan Firooz." Archaeologists have recently found some historical elements in Nameen, a nearby town belonging to the 12th-16th century BC. The Oratoie epigraph (7-9 century BC), found in Arasbaran, mentions that civilized people lived in the region of Ardabil at that time. The reign of the Safavid Dynasty in the 16th and 17th centuries represented the peak of Persian carpet making in this region. Pertaining to the rugs and carpets that Ardabil produces, they generally contain medallions, connected with multiple, diamond-shaped medallions, and all-over octagonal shapes. The Mahi(Herati) design is also commonly used. This has a diamond medallion with small fish throughout. In addition to patterns used, Ardabil rugs can feature motifs that are very similar to a Caucasian rug, but with more motifs and objects woven into the borders. The colors are also lighter. All-in-all they seem to have a semi-nomadic appearance which appeals to the tastes of contemporary and even traditional decorators. The warp on Ardabil rugs is mostly cotton, while the weft is either cotton or wool, although silk is also used as weft on fine Ardabil rugs. These fabulous rugs are available in all sizes. Carpets from Ardabil (Ardebil) have excellent visibility and are often referred to as Persian Kazaks because of their similarity to Kazak carpets. The quality of Ardabil carpets is excellent. Dark reds, pinks, khakis, soft greens, and ivories form the majority of colors. The newer pieces usually include colors such as the following: beiges, rust, blues, turquoises, and purples. The texture of Ardabil's pieces is comprised of a soft wool and has a thin pile. The warp is mostly cotton; the weft is either cotton or wool. Silk is also used as weft on fine Ardabil rugs in order to accentuate some highlights in the pattern. Weavers in Ardabil use Persian knots. The knot count varies, but averages from around 120 KPSI or 30 RAJ. Due to the high demand for good Kazak carpets, the majority of Ardabil carpets tend to keep their prices a little high.
