Ghoum Wool & Silk Persian Rug

Entirely hand-knotted, pure wool & silk, vegetable dyes, size: 2.60mX1.60m. Some 150 kilometers south of Tehran, near a dry river, is the city of Ghoum (or Qom). It is the second holiest city in Iran and a major theological center with a large number of religious training seminaries. The sister of the eighth imam is buried there in a splendid mausoleum. The Ghoum Carpet is a type of carpet produced in Iran in the Ghoum region. The first looms appeared in 1930, on the initiative of merchants from Keshan. Despite their recent manufacture, they have imposed themselves by the perfection of their technique and the variety of their designs. In Ghoum, the manufacture of carpets began at the beginning of the 20th century. Ghoum carpets are distinguished by their fine workmanship and their wool or silk pile. They are often tied tightly, with the Persian knot, and have various patterns borrowed from various Iranian origins. It happens that some details of the pattern are made in silk. It is also common with carpets made entirely of silk, which are called Ghoum-silk. The classic patterns are the boteh and zil-e sultan. We also find the flowers on a plain background characteristic of Ispahan carpets and the central medallion of Keshan carpets. The Ghoum carpet has a very colorful appearance, the white and ivory of the background bringing out the multicolored patterns. Garden decorations, medallions or figurative motifs with drawings of animals and plants are common. Nowadays, carpets sold under the name of Ghoum are also made in other localities.