The Finer Points of Tabriz Rugs

Tabriz rugs are a lovely addition to almost every home. Flowing and graceful, formal and elegant; they bring class and elegance to any setting. Whether you are looking for a rug in the bedroom, family room or your parlor, a Tabriz rug may prove to be the ideal choice.

Tabriz rugs are available in every color and feature a wide range of patterns. However, they most commonly have floral themes to them. They are typically comprised of a large center medallion with a coordinating border around the entire piece. The rest of the field is typically covered in supporting patterns, including short stems, flowers or leaves.

Not all Tabriz rugs will feature one central medallion. There are also many examples of Tabriz rugs that feature a repeating pattern throughout the center field. However, the designs on Tabriz rugs are typically highly detailed and worthy of showcasing on their own.

Designed to transport you mentally into the relaxing beauty of a garden in full bloom, the rugs are harmonious and lovely. The close weave and tight texture allow the full impact of the rugs design to clearly come through. The nap is short and the rug is firm to the touch, but still soft under bare feet.

Named for the capital of Persian Azerbaijan, Tabriz, these rugs can trace their heritage back to the 16th century. They have enjoyed being the center of focus for rug weavers since the 1800’s.

Tabriz rugs stand out from other Persian rugs not only for the level of detail in their design, but also for their construction. While most other rugs are made using a Persian knot, the Tabriz rugs make use of a Symmetric knot and the foundation is a tight level two.

As with any other rug, the quality level can vary. To find an exceptional Tabriz rug that will provide you with years of service, look at the back of the rug. There should be a substantial amount of pile; the entire rug should not be made up solely of the foundation. The more wool that is used, the higher the quality will typically be. The pile should range between 1/4” to ¾” inch thick with the thickest ones being the highest quality.

You can also determine the quality by asking about the KPSI for the rug. Referring to the “Knots Per Square Inch”, this number is similar to the thread count on sheets. The higher the number, the finer the knots used and the higher the quality. Anything with a count of less than 150 is considered to be low quality. 150-250 is medium and you should look for 250 or above if you want the highest quality.

The wool used can also affect the value of the rug. Most Tabriz rugs are made using sheep’s wool. A few are made with goat wool, and those are marked as such. A rug made with Kurkwool is crafted using the soft, fine wool from lambs. These rugs are the softest and the most expensive.