Seraband Rugs

In Central Iran, not very far from Hamadan and Soltanabad, is a mountainous countryside known as Seraband. In this district, Persian rugs are made which once seen, they can always again be recognized. All Seraband rugs have only one and the same pattern of palm leaves tilted sideways, each of them only a few inches long. These appear in contrasting colors on a background, which is usually madder-red, but often dark blue, and cream grounds are rare on these rugs. The comparatively narrow borders consist almost entirely of dark lines on a cream ground, lines which run parallel along both edges of the border and then, after a short interval, intersect, describing cartouche-like figures in which leaf-buds or little palm-leaves are worked. In these rugs, the main border is flanked by two very narrow parallel borders or guards, which almost always contain a pattern of undulating shoots or tendrils. Beyond the outer guards there is often a narrow outer edge consisting of the triangular or crenellated pattern. The Seraband stitch is medium-fine, the back has a corrugated appearance, and the pile is cut as close as possible. The surface of these rugs feels slightly harsh. Nevertheless, the wool is very hard wearing, as is proved by the well-preserved state of older specimens. The finest Seraband rugs with the pattern, which has just been described- are known in the trade as Mir rugs. The Mir rugs are quite as fine in texture as the Seraband rugs, but the pile is not cut so close, and the wool is generally of exceptional quality and luster, so that they have a fine, glossy surface (see also Mir rugs). Seraband rugs are made as Namaze rugs and Sadjadeh rugs, but most of them are Keleis

In Central Iran, not very far from Hamadan and Soltanabad, is a mountainous countryside known as Seraband. In this district, Persian rugs are made which once seen, they can always again be recognized. All Seraband rugs have only one and the same pattern of palm leaves tilted sideways, each of them only a few inches long. These appear in contrasting colors on a background, which is usually madder-red, but often dark blue, and cream grounds are rare on these rugs. The comparatively narrow borders consist almost entirely of dark lines on a cream ground, lines which run parallel along both edges of the border and then, after a short interval, intersect, describing cartouche-like figures in which leaf-buds or little palm-leaves are worked. In these rugs, the main border is flanked by two very narrow parallel borders or guards, which almost always contain a pattern of undulating shoots or tendrils. Beyond the outer guards there is often a narrow outer edge consisting of the triangular or crenellated pattern. The Seraband stitch is medium-fine, the back has a corrugated appearance, and the pile is cut as close as possible. The surface of these rugs feels slightly harsh. Nevertheless, the wool is very hard wearing, as is proved by the well-preserved state of older specimens. The finest Seraband rugs with the pattern, which has just been described- are known in the trade as Mir rugs. The Mir rugs are quite as fine in texture as the Seraband rugs, but the pile is not cut so close, and the wool is generally of exceptional quality and luster, so that they have a fine, glossy surface (see also Mir rugs). Seraband rugs are made as Namaze rugs and Sadjadeh rugs, but most of them are Keleis