Rug 88806

This is a hand-knotted wool Sarab rug from Iran, a classic and charming example of Persian village weaving that radiates warmth and authentic character. The immediate impression is one of earthy, geometric boldness. Its tactile quality is honest and robust; the medium-height wool pile feels durable and substantial under the hand, with the pleasingly irregular texture of hand-spun yarn, a distinct departure from the refined smoothness of city workshop carpets. This is a piece of functional folk art, built to last and tell a story.
The visual exploration begins with the expansive central field, rendered in a rich, warm Camel color that is a signature of Sarab rug design. This open, inviting space is not empty but is playfully populated with an array of small, scattered geometric and zoomorphic motifs. You can identify stylized, four-legged creatures that resemble dogs or gazelles, eight-pointed stars, and small geometric rosettes, all woven in a simple palette of Terracotta, Navy Blue, and Ivory. These charming, talismanic figures are arranged with a kind of rhythmic intuition, giving the field a lively and personal feel.
Running down the central spine of the rug is a powerful series of three large, interconnected hexagonal medallions. Their primary color is a deep, earthy Terracotta or Brick Red, which creates a strong, warm contrast against the camel-colored field. The outline of each medallion is serrated with a latch-hook technique, giving it a crisp, graphic, and dynamic edge. Within each of these red medallions lies a smaller, concentric hexagon of Navy Blue, which in turn contains a final, tiny ivory rosette at its very heart. These medallions are filled with fine geometric details and are flanked by smaller motifs in Sky Blue and Ivory.
The entire composition is framed by a complex and substantial border system. The main, outermost border is wide and powerful, rendered in the same Terracotta/Brick Red as the central medallions. It features a continuous, repeating “reciprocal trefoil” or “running dog” pattern, a classic tribal design, with interlocking shapes in Camel, Navy Blue, and Ivory. This is flanked by several narrower inner guard borders. One notable stripe features a delicate, meandering vine with small flowers on an Ivory ground, providing a moment of curvilinear grace amidst the otherwise rectilinear design. Another features a simple, repeating geometric pattern in blue and red. This layering of borders creates a sense of depth and importance, formally containing the lively energy of the central field.