Mashad
Origins: Mashad Persian rugs hail from Mashad, a prominent city in northeastern Iran, historically renowned for its rich rug-weaving tradition. This city’s carpets have long been celebrated for their exquisite craftsmanship and historical depth, reflecting centuries of artistic heritage.
Design: Mashad rugs are distinguished by their elaborate designs, which often feature intricate floral patterns, medallions, and geometric motifs. These designs are executed with great precision and attention to detail, showcasing a palette of deep, rich colors such as royal blues, vibrant reds, and elegant golds, along with softer hues like ivory and sage.
Construction: Handcrafted with exceptional skill, Mashad rugs use premium materials, including fine wool, silk, and cotton. Silk accents highlight the rug’s details and add a subtle sheen. The Persian knot technique, employed in their creation, results in a dense, durable pile that enhances the rug’s longevity and texture.
Size and Shape: Available in various sizes, from compact accent pieces to expansive room-sized carpets, Mashad rugs cater to diverse spatial and design needs. They come in multiple shapes, including rectangular, square, and round, to suit different interior styles.
Quality and Collectability: Renowned for their superior quality and intricate artistry, Mashad rugs are highly coveted by collectors and connoisseurs worldwide. Their historical significance and the meticulous craftsmanship involved make them valuable investments and cherished pieces in any collection.
Cultural Significance: Mashad rugs embody Iran's rich cultural heritage, reflecting a tradition of artistry that has been preserved and celebrated through generations. They serve as symbols of Persian culture, showcasing the region’s historical, literary, and aesthetic values.
Evolution: Mashad Persian rugs have evolved over time, blending traditional designs with modern influences to appeal to contemporary tastes. While maintaining classic motifs, modern Mashad rugs may incorporate updated color schemes and innovative patterns, bridging historical artistry with modern design sensibilities.
Antique mashad carpet that is best of type
History
Mashad, a city in northeastern Iran, is known for its long-standing tradition of producing high-quality carpets. These rugs, crafted with fine wool and natural dyes, have a reputation for their durability and intricate designs. Mashad carpets often feature large, detailed central medallions, curvilinear floral motifs, and rich colors like deep reds and blues, making them highly sought after by collectors. Carpet weaving in Mashad has ancient roots, though the exact date of its origin is uncertain. It is widely believed that the craft began during the Timurid period (1370–1507), a time when Mashad was an important cultural and trade center in northeastern Iran. However, the craft truly flourished during the Safavid dynasty (1501–1736), when Persian arts and crafts, including carpet weaving, were heavily promoted. The Safavid rulers elevated carpet making to an art form, and workshops were established across the region, including in Mashad.
The baron adolphe carl von rothschild ‘polonaise” carpet property of a german nobleman sold at christies
Mashad carpets gained significant recognition in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, largely due to the work of renowned master weavers like the Amoghli family. During this time, these carpets became famous for their exceptional craftsmanship, detailed patterns, and the use of premium Khorasan wool paired with rich natural dyes. Their intricate designs and high-quality materials made them highly sought after both in Iran and internationally. Weavers such as Haji Sheikh Amoghli were often commissioned by royalty and affluent patrons, further solidifying Mashad's status as a major hub for fine Persian carpet production. The Shah of Iran is known to have commissioned carpets from the Amoghli family.
The Pommersfelden ‘polonaise’ carpet sold at chrisities
Mastery of mashad
Prominent figures in Mashad’s carpet weaving tradition include the Amoghli family, particularly Haji Sheikh Amoghli, who rose to fame in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His carpets, known for their fine knot density, intricate patterns, and use of premium Khorasan wool, were often commissioned for royal palaces and prestigious buildings. The Amoghli family’s work greatly contributed to Mashad’s recognition as a hub for high-quality Persian carpets.
Saber Khorasani is another key figure, blending traditional Persian motifs with modern design elements, which brought a fresh perspective to Mashad’s carpet-making tradition.
Additionally, Makhmalbaf is recognized for producing carpets that showcase the exceptional craftsmanship and detailed artistry typical of Mashad’s weaving heritage.
These weavers played significant roles in establishing Mashad as a renowned center for producing exquisite Persian rugs, a legacy that continues to be admired by collectors worldwide.
The Amoghli family
Abdul Mohammad Amogli was born in Tabriz around 1870. His father, Mohammad was involved in the silk and textile trade in Tabriz. In 1871, the family relocated to Mashad, where Mohammad adopted the surname Amogli and established a Persian carpet workshop.
Mohammad had two sons, Abdul Mohammad and Ali Khan, who both worked in the family’s carpet weaving business. Eventually, Abdul Mohammad took over the workshop, with his brother Ali Khan assisting him. Abdul Mohammad created custom carpets, often showing clients two illustrated books of Safavid-period designs that he had imported from England. The design sketches for his carpets were crafted by Abdul Karim and Abdul Hamid Sanatnegar, two skilled designers from Kerman.
One of Abdul Mohammad's notable works is a 25m² Sheikh Safi-pattern carpet, made in 1935 for the Parliament building in Tehran. His most famous creation, however, is an 86m² hunting-pattern carpet woven between 1934 and 1936, widely regarded as his masterpiece. Renowned Persian carpet expert Cecil Edwards praised Amogli’s work, remarking that in his 50 years of experience across Iran and Western Asia, Amogli’s carpets ranked among the finest he had seen.
In addition to his workshop in Mashad, Abdul Mohammad also ran workshops in Mahmoudabad Later, he sold the Mahmoudabad workshop to Khalil and set up a large facility on Afshar Street in Mashad, employing dozens of craftsmen. He passed away in 1937, and his brother Ali Khan assumed control of the business.
A stunning vase design amoghli mashad
An all over masterpiece by saber from mashad that is exceptional
Makhmalbaf
Mohammad Ibrahim Makhmalbaf, a notable carpet artist and dealer from Mashad, was active in the early 20th century. He operated a major workshop with 61 looms near his home, as well as two smaller workshops, each with four looms, in other parts of Mashad and Turkabeh. Makhmalbaf’s carpets were well-regarded, often commissioned by government officials, and featured the inscription "AmaL-e Makhmalbah" to signify his craftsmanship.
In addition to his weaving expertise, Makhmalbaf was known for dyeing his own wool, using natural dyes to create colors that became renowned for their beauty. Despite his fame, he never shared the formulas for these dyes. Unfortunately, Makhmalbaf developed dementia later in life and passed away without revealing his secret dye recipes.
A beautiful 1935 SHIEKH SAFI DESIGN CARPET BY AMOGHLI Brothers that
SABER
Abbas Saber was born in 1901 in Azerbaijan, where his father, Abdul kazem Saber, was involved in the wool and yarn trade. However, their lives were drastically altered when the Soviet army invaded, causing the family to lose everything. Forced to leave Azerbaijan with nothing, they eventually settled in Mashad after moving through several towns. Reflecting on those difficult times, Abbas recalled how they couldn't even afford basic necessities when they first arrived in Mashad.
In a stroke of fortune, they discovered that Abdulmohammad Amogli, another refugee from Azerbaijan, was running a large carpet workshop in Mashad and needed skilled workers. Abbas’s father secured a job there, and Abbas soon followed. Under the mentorship of Amogli, Abbas learned the art of Persian carpet design and weaving. His dedication quickly earned him a position as a loom manager.
A few years later, Abbas ventured out on his own, setting up two looms at Malek Caravanserai and producing his own carpets, which quickly became popular in Mashad, attracting increasing orders.
In 1939, Abbas's career took a major leap when he caught the attention of a prominent Mashad merchant and landowner. the merchant placed orders for carpets and offered to invest in Abbas’s workshop. With this investment, the number of looms expanded from two to 43, eventually reaching 200. Abbas moved his workshop to a larger location near Martyrs' Crossroads, employing over 350 workers.
His carpets, known for their high quality and affordability, rivaled those of his former mentor Amogli, leading to a surge in demand from both government offices and wealthy clients. Abbas also created significant works, such as carpets for the Mausoleum of Imam Reza in Mashad. He passed away in 1978 and was laid to rest near the Mausoleum of Imam Reza.
A masterpiece of a dual tree of life by makhmalbaf with a directional design that is stunning