Mashad, Mayghon, Maymeh, Mazlaqon, Mehraban, Mehraban (Mehravan)

Oriental rugs are often known by the regions they were woven in. Collectors of Persian rugs often research each region thoroughly to understand not only the rug weaving techniques but also the designs and traditions employed in each region. These traditions often date back hundreds of years and are woven into the culture of each region. This richness impresses even more beauty on the Persian rugs that are available for sale around the world. Learn below about the different regions and click on the photos above to see samples of the different patterns.

Iranian (Persian) rug making region(s) included on this page:

Mashad (Kashan)

The Khorasan province is an important rug producing region. Its name is used interchangeably with Mashad. Mashad holds a religious significance in Iran. Mashad may use Kerman- or Tabriz-like designs. Rugs from this area may be woven using a Turkish or Persian knot, but it is mainly Persian. Like Kermans, the reds and blue colors used have a bluish tint.

Mayghon

Mayghon is located near Arak in the Markazi province.

Maymeh

Maymeh is a few miles from Josheghan, located north of the city of Esfahan. Many rugs are woven with a recognizable repeated diamond geometric design like Josheghan.

Mazlaqon

Mazlaqon is a village west of Saveh in the Markazi province. The medallion designs sometimes have a sawtooth-style border around them.

Mehraban

Mehrabans have a nice-quality weave and are made north of the city of Hamadan. There is potential confusion due to a city with a similar name in the Heris area in northwestern Iran.

Mehraban (Mehravan)

Mehraban (Mehravan) is a city close to the city of Heris in northwestern Iran. There is potential confusion with Mehraban rugs woven in the Hamadan province. Goravan, Bakhshayesh, Heris, Serapi, and Mehraban (Mehravan) have the same type of weave. Two identical pieces of weft strings are used each row. One row runs both strings on top of each other as one straight weft. The next row uses one string as the straight weft and the second string as the alternate sinuous “second” weft and so on.

If you are curious to learn more, my eBook The Art of Oriental Rugs - A Weaver's Perspective shows you: 1) how to identify a weave** and how different techniques produce “recognizable” variations in different regions, 2) maps with geographical views of where rugs are woven in the country of Iran and how the regional weaves influence each other, and 3) 750+ close-up pictures of weaves from 170+ rug-weaving regions in Iran and around the globe. I’ve written a book I wish I had when I first started in the rug business. This, I humbly hope, will be seen as an indispensable addition to any library.