Oriental Rugs Glossary

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Mashad

Mashad is located in North East Persia in the province of Khorassan, the antique name of this city is Sanabad. Mashad is a desired place of pilgrimage, especially for those who cannot afford to go to Mekka. Whoever made it to Mekka is entitled to be called "Haji" wheras people who made the Mashad pilgrimage are entitled to be called "Mashadi". Nadir Shah made Mashad the capital in 1736. The Mashad rug belongs to the main provenances of Iran's rug industry. The typical characteristics of Mashad rugs are the precise, delicate and fine compositions of the designs and the typical Mashad-red which can be described as a deep dark red with a slight tendency towards purple. Esteemed carpet manufactories were founded in Iran - like of the late great master Makhmal(baf). The tradition of those famous manufactories has been taken on by countless little manufactories now active in Mashad. The typical wool of Mashad rugs has a certain shine and is rather soft, the pile is higher than average.