Moshk Abad Rug | © Rugman

Origin of Moshk Abad Rugs 1

Moshkabad village is located in the Arak (Markazi) Province of west central Iran.

Iran Maps

Moshk Abad, Markazi, Iran | © Rugman

History of Moshk Abad Rugs

Moshk Abad carpets are known in the market from the turn of the twentieth century.

Moshk Abads followed the pattern styles of Mahal or Mahallat, but in a lower grade quality. The weavers from this village produced large quantities of rugs for low-budget consumers both domestically and abroad. Nearby villages such as Davodabad, Einabad, and Kerdabad marketed their carpets as Moshk Abad in the trade. Formats range from small mats to large room-size carpets.

Characteristics of Moshk Abad Rugs

  • Material and Knots

The weavings are generally low to medium in overall grade quality. They have a cotton foundation and a wool pile. The Persian (asymmetric) knot is universally used.

  • Color

The weavings usually have a brick- or rust-red background; ivory and dark blue are also used for the field and borders. Besides these colors, different shades of red, blue, green, gold, brown, cinnamon, and gray accentuate the design elements and guard borders. Dark blue or dark brown is employed for design outlines.

Moshkabad Rug

Moshk Abad Rug Infobox | © WikiRug

  • Design and Pattern

Moshk Abads followed the pattern styles of Mahal or Mahallat. The carpet designs are semifloral in either allover or medallion styles. Designs employed were the palmette with leaves and vines, Harshang (crab), Herati (fish), Minakhani (rosette-linked trellis), Maighan, and the Open Field pattern. Earlier medallion carpets had mostly a lozenge-shaped center motif.

By the last quarter of the twentieth century, some Moshk Abad weavers switched from their usual designs to make carpets similar to those of other cities and villages in the region in accordance with the demand of domestic and foreign consumers.

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  1. Abraham Levi Moheban. 2015. The Encyclopedia of Antique Carpets: Twenty-Five Centuries of Weaving. NewYork: Princeton Architectural Press.