PERSIAN TURKESTAN

Mazandaran, or Persian Turkestan, in north-eastern Iran extending from the southern shore of the Caspian Sea to the soviet border and Khorasan, is the homeland of nomadic Turkmen peoples of the same branch as those who live in Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. Three of these groups live in Iran: the Yomut, the Goklan, who live exclusively in Persia and the Tekke who comprise the largest group. Their rugs are decorated with the classic gul  that is repeated over the entire field and almost always on a red background. Excellent quality local wool is used for the pile, while the warps may be either wool or cotton. There are some rare examples with silk warps, or even made entirely of silk. In terms of workmanship these rugs are similar to those made by the Turkmen of the former Soviet Union, however the raw materials are different as are the washing treatments. The Russian rugs are finished and washed in Germany and the process makes the pile soft and silky so the colours have a special sheen, the Persian rugs are washed in loco according to more traditional methods.