Yazd Rug History

Yazd is the world’s first adobe city located in central Iran. This desert city is located between the Kavir desert  and the Lut desert and dates back to 1000 BC. The town has historical and cultural sites such as the Jameh Mosque with its extraordinary tilework and minarets that date back to the Sassanid period. Yazd was the cultural center of the Zoroastrians, who still live there today. The Zoroastrian fire temple, which has been burning for more than 1500 years, is located in Yazd.

                          Yazd , Iran

Traditional adobe houses, beautiful gardens, and wind towers evoke the culture and art of this desert region. During the Persian Empire, Yazd was an important center for weaving and producing high-quality fabrics. With the spread of Islam, the textile industry declined. Over time, most of the people of Yazd turned to carpet weaving.

                        Saryazd castle, Yazd

What is a Yazd rug?

Handmade Iranian rugs are named according to the place where they are woven. Yazd rug is one of these pieces. Since Yazd is located between the provinces of Isfahan and Kerman, it is natural that it is the heir to the best classic Iranian rugs. Yazd rugs are a testament to man’s adaptation to the harshest desert environments. This resistance and perseverance of the people is reflected in their carpets, which are full of warm designs. The flourishing of Yazd rugs dates back to the late 19th century. At that time, the arrival of foreign tourists to Iran and Yazd paved the way for trade and export of Yazd carpets.

                                Yazd carpet

Yazd rugs are very similar to Kashan rugs. The similarity of these two rugs is so great that they are often mistaken for each other. Perhaps this is because Yazd and Kashan are geographically close. Yazd carpets are very amazing in terms of design and color. The high quality of these rugs has made them famous and known worldwide. High-quality Yazd rugs are sold at auctions in the United States for several hundred thousand dollars. In this article, we will examine the important carpet weaving regions of Yazd, the characteristics of Yazd handmade rugs, and their various designs.

Important Rug Weaving Areas of Yazd Province

Yazd province has different regions, each with its unique characteristics and features. The people of each region weave carpets in their ways. Areas such as Meibod, Ardakan, and Abarkooh are among the most important rug-weaving areas of Yazd province. You can click here for information about Ardakan rugs.

                                        Yazd rug

Yazd Rugs Features

• Yazd rugs are woven in small to large sizes.
• High-quality local wool is used for the pile and cotton for the warp and weft.
• Yazd rugs are soft and durable and have high strength against traffic.
• Many and varied colors such as blue, green, pomegranate, ivory, brown, gold, etc. are used in these carpets.
• Yazd area rugs are woven with the double weft technique and the delicate Persian asymmetrical knot.
• Yazd rugs have traditional and classic designs.
• The designs have large medallions with an open field or all-over background like Herati and Minakhani.
• The knot density in Yazd rugs varies from 120 to 840 knots per square inch.

Charsough Jame Mosque, Natural dyeing

Yazd Rugs Patterns

• Tal & Khoncheh Pattern

The Yazd people used special trays called “Tal “in their ceremonies. “Khonche” is also used to decorate wedding items. These designs are repeated and symmetrically used in Yazd rugs.

The design of Tal o Khonche

• Ahmad Mohammad-Abadi Pattern

The name of this pattern is taken from the name of its designer, Ahmed Mohammad Abadi. Like other common patterns of Yazd, it is a pattern that is repeated 16 times throughout the carpet. The feature of this pattern is that the pattern of the sun with 8 faces is located in the center. In the field and the sides of the rug, sun motif is repeated in full or half and quarter form.

The design of Ahmad Mohammad-Abadi, Yazd rug

• Sardar-Jangi Pattern

The name of this design is taken from the name of a person named Sardar Nasir Khan, nicknamed the war chief. This person had a significant impact on the security and prosperity of Yazd city. For this reason, Yazd rug weavers weaved a design named after him. This design features swords facing each other and is repeated throughout the carpet.

• Herati(Fish) Pattern

The design of Herati originated from the east of Iran and was gradually transferred to other cities. The design of Herati consists of the symbols of fish, flowers and the sun, which are repeated throughout the rug. In this design, the sun is among the fish and flowers. It comes as a supplement in all parts of the carpet.

                         Herati design

• Lachak-Toranj(Medallion) Pattern

Like other Iranian carpets, the Lachak-Toranj pattern is also used in Yazd rugs. In Yazd carpet designs, medallion is placed in a rhombus shape.

Yazd Rugs for Sale

Yazd rugs have one of the richest designs and patterns among the handmade rugs of Iran. These carpets, with their intricate designs and warm color themes, indicate the authenticity and enduring spirit of its people. The price of Yazd rugs depends on their age, design, and size. These carpets are attractive to collectors due to their luxurious appearance. In this article, we have tried to introduce you to the handmade carpets of Yazd. If you are interested in buying Yazd rugs, you can contact the online collection of Vernacarpets. They will help you make a comfortable and confident purchase.