Tabriz silk and wool 58 x 82 inches

Tabriz rugs originate from the ancient city of Tabriz, located in northwestern Iran. Tabriz is the largest producer of handmade Persian wool rugs in the world. This extremely prolific city has enjoyed a wonderful reputation as a center of Oriental culture for centuries. Although rug weaving here can be traced back to the 15th century, it was during the Middle Ages that the weavers of wool rugs began to be influenced by the work of manuscript illuminators, silk embroiderers, miniature painters, and metal workers. Curvilinear designs on wool rugs were first introduced to the courts in Istanbul by weavers. In the mid 19th century the city established itself as the market center for the exportation of Persian wool rugs to the west. Rugs are double wefted and the Turkish knot is dominant, although both Turkish and Persian knots are used.