Malayer Persian Rug
 
Dimensions | 3'3" × 4'4"
Origin | Iran (Persian)
Materials | wool pile & cotton foundation
Type | hand-knotted
 
Detailed Condition: Excellent overall condition. Details: Beautiful and elegant piece of Iranian art from the village of Malayer. Hand-knotted with wool on a cotton foundation. Thick wool pile and even throughout.
 
About Malayers:  The Malayer rug area is a collection of villages, comprised of Malayer, Taimeh, and Jozan; somewhat southwest of the larger Hamadan region. Malayer rugs as a whole, may somewhat resemble American Saruks, but actually are more closely related to the older traditions of the Saruk and Ferahan regions. Malayers, unlike Saruks, which use Persian knots, are always double-wefted and use the Turkish knot. Most Malayers contain a central medallion. The field of each rug is usually a dark blue color. They often utilize a “white-dotted” coping around the medallion, and a “rope-loop” effect of the main border. Although not strictly a Hamadan region or rug, the town of Malayer serves as a “collecting center” for many rugs from north, west and even south, of Hamadan rug construction. The exquisite use of color in much of the Malayer-Jozan area derives from the ongoing use of natural dyes. Also, the wools are of excellent quality, in terms of strength, feel, and durability. The characteristic dark blue background creates a striking contrast to the colorful foreground medallion and design. Malayer rugs remain a reasonably good investment, and are quite popular among rug enthusiasts. - William E. Clymer III.