About Bofandeh

My name is Kayvon Sadrabadi, and I live in the beautiful city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’m originally from Iran and came to the United States in 1978. I know both cultures well, and, like a parent who loves both their children equally, I love both cultures! I’ve been working with rugs for over 35 years; from buying, selling, cleaning and restoring.

My first exposure to weaving was as a child playing around with my cousins at my aunt’s house in Yazd, Iran. I fell in love with the art form and what it represented about the people and culture of Iran while I was working at a rug store during college. After 11 years, I changed careers to the corporate world by means of my formal education. The next 20 years I continued to stay engaged with rugs by doing restorations, research, reading and staying curious. It’s a wonderful time to be a curious person when there’s a world of knowledge on the internet.

I’ve been blessed with access to many generous experts along the way and have learned much from each one. I wrestled with the question of whether there was anything I could do to help educate and spark an interest in a new generation of rug enthusiasts.

Many wonderful books have expanded our knowledge of rugs by focusing on origins, designs, colors and history. In reality, experts identify rugs by the weave of a rug which can be identified from the back. “Weave” refers to the formation of knots viewed from the back of the rug. It has no relation to the design and/or colors. Each region has its own signature weave which persists and is passed on from one generation to the next.

Although a challenging concept to explain, I felt confident that a closer examination into the artform could be beneficial and hopefully add to the body of knowledge all while attracting a new generation of rug enthusiasts. Frankly, it also satisfied my own curiosity on questions I had over the years, like asking “Why does it look like that?”

I’ve dedicated three and a half years creating this work to hopefully demystify this art form and, through a better understanding, spark an interest for the next generation. I’ve written a book I wish I had when I first started in the rug business.

To learn is to understand, to understand is to appreciate, preserving a tradition through education.

MY GOAL

I want to give back to a culture and tradition which has meant so much to me in my life. I’d like to help educate as many people as possible with a basic understanding of how rugs are made. Here, I’m providing you what’s needed to understand exactly how a rug is made. A better understanding will help foster an appreciation for this ancient and honorable artform. For those who want to dig deeper and have a specific understanding of Iranian (Persian*) weaving techniques my eBook will give you an unprecedented access to the innerworkings of this mesmerizing craft.

OUR STORY

The rug weaving industry in Iran is on the decline due to many reasons –internal and external. The fact remains that this wonderful tradition is in danger of extinction. Art represents humanity, and, in this age of automation, it provides a link on a human level. It’s incumbent upon us to do our best to preserve it.
There is a direct link that’s made when acquiring a rug from a country like Iran. It has the potential to increase the country’s overall demand for rugs and financially helps the families who make them. This ultimately leads to the preservation of this wonderful tradition.
To learn is to understand and appreciate. The best way to understand rugs is to better understand the “weave.” A weave is the knot formation on the back of a rug which is unique to each regional weaving area. Recognizing a weave helps identify origins of rugs. Using the latest technology, we are now able to reach different generations of rug enthusiasts across the globe.
Experience a visual feast of beauty and imagination as you look at the creation of months (or years) of work by Iranian weavers. With an open mind, find what appeals to you visually and disregard whether it matches any décor. Simply fall in love with a piece of art. Whether you’re interested in rugs or not, you can’t help but be impressed by the amount of imagination and effort gone into each  rug. All of which are available in the market today.
A picture of a weave can provide a reference for enthusiasts to make comparisons not only to better understand but to also purchase with confidence. This resource provides the tools for honorable dealers to help their clients purchase with confidence.

Works of Art Inspired by Tradition, Excellence & Creativity

Iranian (Persian*) weavers have been creating exquisite rugs for centuries

*Historically, Persia was the common name used by western countries for Iran (pronounced e-ron) until 1935 when the country was officially named Iran. The words Iranian and/or Persian represent the same proud nation and people. **Weave refers to the unique pattern of knot formations on the back of rugs. ***bofandeh means “weaver” in Farsi (Persian) which is the language of Iran.

 

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