Mashhad
The carpets of Mashhad, the largest weaving center in north east Persian, include many interesting pieces of remarkable quality which reach the West, mainly via England. The century old carpet weaving tradition of Mashhad was developed under several rulers and there is evidence that designers, and probably carpet weavers from Mashhad were employed in other major Persian weaving centers.
Mashhad has been an important cultural center for more than one thousand years. Harun al-Rashid, the tenth century poet Ferdusi, and Khayyam are buried here as is Nadir Shah, a famous ruler of more recent times, who made Mashhad his capital in the early 18th century. Mashhad is second only to Mecca in importance to the Islamic religion. Countless Persian who are unable to undertake the journey to Mecca, to pray as a Mashadi at the grave of the eighth Imam, the Imam Reza.
Size: Mashhad carpets include all sizes and formats, including very large pieces. A limited number of smaller rugs are made in the town workshops.
Colours: the dominant colour of Mashhad carpet is red, less frequently blue. However, all colours are used in ornaments and their outlining. Despite this, tranquility and elegance is a characteristic of Mashhad carpets.
Foundation: warps and wefts are cotton.
