Origin of Maymeh Rugs

Maymeh or Meymeh rugs are authentic hand-woven Persian rugs, made in the district of Maymeh, which is near Isfahan in central Iran. The designs are similar to Qashqai or other tribal rugs. They usually have a main diamond medallion, embedded within another medallion, embedded within another one and so on for few times. The main color is usually a rich burgundy accented with many blues, green and ivories. The quality is perhaps one of the highest among the tribal family of rugs. It is very densely knotted and will last a long time. An authentic Maymeh Persian rug is an intelligent way to greatly enhance the decor of any room.

History of Maymeh Rugs

Besides  the legendary cities of Central Iran such as Tehran, Isfahan, Qum, Nain, Kashan, Yazd, and Kerman that weave amazing quality rugs, there are numerous smaller towns scattered throughout central Iran that weave very high quality carpets as well. Although not as fine as the eminent city rugs, these handmade rugs are still among the highest of quality in the world. Some of these small towns south of Tehran include Veramin, Tafresh, Boroujerd, Khomaine, and Taleghan. Some towns around Isfahan are Najafabad, Josheghan, and the village of Maymeh.

There are also a few cities near Kashan that produce fine rugs, such as Ardekan. Kashan and Isfahan are both pioneers in the game of handmade rugs, and the two have had great influence on their surrounding cities. This is why Najafabad carries out the design of Isfahan, and Yazd and Ardekan weave the famous design of Kashan. Most of the time, the rugs woven in Kashan, Yazd, or Ardekan are indistinguishable from one another. A genuine Isfahan rug however can always be identified by an expert. Most of these towns of central Iran have existed for thousands of years and they have built up quite a rich history.

Characteristics of Maymeh Rugs

• Material and Knots

Rugs woven in this region have amazing quality renowned and recognized all over the world. The rugs woven in major cities of central Iran cannot even be compared to the village rugs.

Often, a professional weaver in one of these cities will work non-stop on a rug for many years. The famous asymmetrical Persian knot is only used in the weaving of these fine rugs. The materials can be all wool, all silk or a precise ratio of the two. The foundation (warp and weft) of the rugs is cotton except in very fine pieces where it is pure silk.

• Color

The main color is usually a rich burgundy accented with many blues, green and ivories.

• Design and Pattern

The designs are similar to Qashqai or other tribal rugs. They usually have a main diamond medallion, embedded within another medallion, embedded within another one and so on for few times.