Carpet Iran Ghoum Wool Kurk & Silk Circa 1970

Entirely knotted by hand, fine wool and silk, vegetable dyes, size: 2,55mx1,60m. Some 150 kilometers south of Tehran, near a dry river, is the town of Ghoum (or Qom). It is the second holy city of Iran and a major theological center with a very large number of religious training seminars. The sister of the eighth Imam is buried there in a splendid mausoleum. Ghoum Carpet is a type of carpet produced in Iran in the Ghoum area. The first trades appeared in 1930, at the initiative of merchants of Keshan. In spite of their recent manufacture, they imposed themselves by the perfection of their technique and the variety of their drawings. In Ghoum, carpet making began in the early 20th century. Ghoum carpets are distinguished by their fine workmanship and velvet wool or silk. They are often tied tight, with the Persian knot, and have varied motifs borrowed from various Iranian sources. Some details of the pattern may be made of silk. It is also common with all-silk carpets, which is called Ghoum-Silk. The classic motifs are the boteh and zil-e sultan. We also find the flowers on solid background characteristics of Isfahan carpets and the central medallion of Keshan carpets. The Ghoum rug has a very colorful appearance, the white and ivory of the background bringing out the multicolored patterns. Garden decorations, medallions or figurative motifs in animal and plant designs are common. Nowadays, carpets sold under the name of Ghoum are also manufactured in other localities.