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Serapi prayer rug, perhaps.  What happened here?
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TMC Offline
#1 Posted : Thursday, January 31, 2013 12:25:24 PM(UTC)
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Hello detectives out there; I could use your insight! I believe this rug would be called a double-niche prayer rug. Size is approx. 1 x 1.3 meters (37" x 51").

Is it a Serapi rug? What could have led to the badly faded border at one end? If it were faded evenly across, I would guess that end had been left in the sun. However the fading does not extend to the niche on that end. Then we have the blue field which looks like it has been perhaps re-woven, because the same end that has the faded border has more dark and vivid blue field.

Sorry I don't have a picture of the back at this time. It's owned locally, and I will see it in person soon and get a look at the back. I like the overall look. It has some condition problems and missing border at the ends.

thanks in advance.
TMC attached the following image(s):
double prayer.jpg
double prayer, end.jpg
double prayer, other end.jpg
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RugPro Offline
#2 Posted : Thursday, January 31, 2013 7:24:58 PM(UTC)
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the pictures do not say much as we cannot see the structure. to my eye, this looks like a special piece, although in very rough condition, perhaps a farahan sarouk in a very unusual design and color. Not double niche, just stepped inset. niche would level on either side. change in color is a different dye lot.
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TMC Offline
#3 Posted : Thursday, January 31, 2013 10:14:13 PM(UTC)
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thanks RugPro. It is in rough condition, as you say. Here are some more pictures. It's Persian knotted, depressed warps, open left. The color change I was asking about is not the abrash, but the radical color change in the border only - the major border background changes abruptly from dark blue to to a sort of tan in the bottom 25% or so of the rug's length.
TMC attached the following image(s):
back corner.jpg
border.jpg
field.jpg
corner.jpg
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RugPro Offline
#4 Posted : Friday, February 1, 2013 5:29:26 PM(UTC)
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Is there any info on the tag?
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TMC Offline
#5 Posted : Friday, February 1, 2013 5:47:58 PM(UTC)
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no, no information.
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RugPro Offline
#6 Posted : Friday, February 1, 2013 8:13:30 PM(UTC)
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I would be interested to see what others say, my gut says Farahan Sarouk ca. 1910 although curiously it has some Caucasian influence. Would be an interesting rug to try and bridge between migratory weaver and designs if so - hints of nw persian serapi, bakshaish etc (almost a crude gerus design), although structure and look of design execution look similar to farahan?
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KAD Offline
#7 Posted : Thursday, February 7, 2013 10:29:37 AM(UTC)
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I would say Merawan area. Design influenced by NW persian (border) and Sarouk / Farahan / Malayer (field). Color change in border and in corner is typical abrash. Interesting rug. Age as RugPro posted around 1910.
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TMC Offline
#8 Posted : Thursday, February 7, 2013 12:29:54 PM(UTC)
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Thanks again gents. I did end up buying this rug. A local dealer (not the seller) also opined Farahan, so that's several votes for Farahan influence. I've been looking for analogous designs on the web any haven't really found one. It's a pretty rug and was hanging on the seller's wall for 35 years after he bought it from a Persian dealer in Ann Arbor, MI (Ali Amiri, if anyone knows him - has been in business 45 years!). The previous owner was a smoker - it will be interesting to see what a washing does for this rug.

KAD, what towns is Merawan near? I couldn't find it in a quick look at the map of NW Iran.
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TMC Offline
#9 Posted : Thursday, February 7, 2013 1:41:43 PM(UTC)
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never mind, I see it, from Wikipedia:
"Mehraban (Persian: ???????; also Romanized as Mehraban, Mehravan, and Mehrevan)[1] is a city in and the capital of Mehraban District, in Sarab County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran."
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