Meshed War Rug

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Meshed War Rug

2 feet 7 inches by 3 feet 11

A number of years ago I wrote an article for Oriental Rug Review called Afghan War Rugs: If it Walks Like a Duck.... In it I broke a lot of new ground trying to attribute the various types of war rugs to where they were made. One type I discussed were the rugs from Meshed, Iran. This is one of those rugs.

The argument for a Iranian attribution is outlined in my article. However the key identifiers are structure, wool and design. Recently I was able to obtain a number of these rugs and they are identical to what was available during the Russian war. Since this particular type is no longer made with these materials this rug must date to before The Islamic Republic of Iran began sending the refugees home after the war.

How We Select Our Rugs

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the right. 6 knots per horizontal inch and 7 knots per vertical inch. 42 per square inch (651 per square decimeter)

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: White cotton.

Weft: Black Cotton, 2 shots.

Pile: 2 Wool singles.

Ends: 1/2 inch plain weave with warp fringe.

Selvages: wrapped in brown wool.

Further Notes: Excellent condition, in "As New Condition".

In 1954 the United States overthrew the legally constituted freely elected government of Iran and placed a despot on the Peacock Throne. I've heard all the arguments, Cold War, Status Quo, Geopolitical Considerations, etc... Not to mention Oil, Money, and Power. After many years the People of Iran overthrew the Shah and in the process they took our embassy. Ever since we have been punishing the Iranian people for overthrowing our puppet. When the Russians invaded Iran there were many refugees and about 2,500,000 ended up in Iran, mostly in the Meshed area. Because of the US boycott a disproportionate percent of the aid went to Pakistan. To eat meant working and in boycott ravaged Iran weaving was one of the few jobs open to the newcomers.

To feed their children many people wove these rugs in Iran. When they went back home they wove related but very different rugs.