Sarab runner

Sarab runner

from northern Persia

late 19th century

Size: 355 x 115 cm

The town of Sarab is located about 70 miles east of Tabriz on the way to Ardabil. It provides a market place for rugs from some 20 nearby villages. Rugs attributed to Sarab are most usually ‘kenareh’ (runners) or ‘kelleghi’ (carpets proportionally twice as long as they are wide). Another common feature of older Sarab weavings is the abundant use of undyed camel hair or undyed sheep’s wool of a camel tone. In this long rug, four hexagonal medallions alternately ivory and red, dominate the inner field surrounded by an outer border of plain camel featuring only minimal geometric or charmingly stylised animal motifs.