Persian Rug Moud approx. 238 x 238 cm Hand-knotted (Sold)

Moud Persian Rug

Material and Craftsmanship

This Moud Persian rug is hand-knotted. Its pile is made of 100% virgin wool, while the warp is made of 100% cotton. This combination reflects the traditional material structure described for Moud rugs: wool forms the visible pile and cotton provides the foundation into which the knots are tied. Wool is well suited to hand knotting and gives the design a distinct textile surface. The cotton warp forms the longitudinal basis of the rug and supports the rows of knots.

Moud rugs are made with the asymmetrical Persian knot. Experienced weavers use this knot because it allows detailed and intricate designs to be drawn with precision. Each knot is tied by hand and worked into the foundation row by row. This construction distinguishes a hand-knotted rug from a machine-made rug, where an automated loom performs the production process.

The listed knot density is approximately 200,000 knots per square metre. Knot density describes how closely the hand-tied structure is built and is connected with the ability to render smaller design details. Moud rugs are made with two wefts. The weft passes across the warp and, together with it, stabilises the woven foundation of the rug.

Fringes, the reverse and the knot formation are useful general points when identifying a hand-made rug. On a hand-knotted rug, the fringes are an extension of the warp. The reverse reveals the individual knot structure, whereas a machine-made rug often has a more uniform, mechanically produced backing. These features explain the craft behind the construction without adding characteristics that have not been stated for this particular piece.

Origin and Tradition

Moud is a city in Khorassan Province, south of Mashad. It has a long-established weaving tradition. Mashad is also described as a major weaving and trading centre for rugs made in neighbouring towns and villages. This regional exchange helps explain why Moud rugs have recognisable local features while also sharing qualities with rugs from other parts of Khorassan.

Moud rugs have been known in the antiques trade since the turn of the twentieth century. Much of the production took place in city workshops, although Moud rugs made on home looms can also be found. Workshop production and domestic weaving therefore both form part of the region’s history. The common element is the hand-knotted method, in which the rug is built knot by knot rather than produced on a fully automated machine.

In the history of Persian carpets, Moud rugs are often discussed alongside rugs from Birjand and Mashad. Their designs can reflect the wider Khorassan tradition, although individual Moud rugs do not all share the same pattern or execution. Early examples are described as being of secondary quality in comparison with Meshad-Khorassan rugs. At the same time, Moud rugs were produced in substantial quantities for the domestic and Western middle-class markets.

After the Second World War, some Moud weavers moved away from their established patterns. They also produced rugs resembling those of other Persian weaving regions in order to meet the demands of domestic and overseas export customers. Moud consequently represents both a distinctive regional tradition and a continuing exchange with other Persian design vocabularies.

The colour tradition described for Moud rugs is centred particularly on reds, blues and beiges. Pomegranate red, obtained from cochineal, is named as a typical field colour, while a smaller proportion of rugs use dark blue in the field instead. Borders, outlines and individual design elements may also contain gold, green, cinnamon, brown and grey. Silk is sometimes used in Moud rugs to increase the lustre of the pile, but it is not an essential feature of every rug from the region.

Design and Pattern

The pattern of this rug is identified as the Mahi fish pattern. Mahi is the name used for a Herati design, one of the established floral and vegetal pattern traditions in Persian carpet weaving. The reference to fish comes from the characteristic forms contained within the repeating design. In Moud rugs, the Herati pattern often occupies most of the field and is considered one of the region’s particularly recognisable design elements.

Herati designs arrange plant forms within a structured repeat. Leaves, vines and floral elements are set around recurring motifs, creating a rhythm across the field. The pattern may appear dense and finely articulated because the asymmetrical Persian knot supports precise rendering. The design tradition is therefore closely linked to the weaver’s ability to organise many small forms into a coherent composition.

Moud rugs are traditionally found with either a central medallion or an all-over layout. A medallion may suggest a star or a hexagonal shape. In an all-over composition, the repeat extends across the field without one central element controlling the entire arrangement. Moud designs also include Boteh, Herati, lattice and Minakhani patterns. Boteh is also known as paisley, while Minakhani designs connect rosettes with trellis-like structures.

The borders draw on traditional Khorassan pattern language. Large palmettes, leaves and vines are recurring border elements. Small rectangular borders may also contain motifs inspired by Persian gardens. The source text notes that such garden motifs are otherwise especially associated with Bakhtiari rugs. Moud compositions can therefore combine local Khorassan forms with design elements that also occur in other Persian weaving areas.

Colour and pattern work together in this tradition. Strong reds and blues can be set against an ivory background so that the drawing becomes more distinct. Beige, gold, green, cinnamon, brown and grey provide additional tones in borders, outlines and smaller pattern details. The Mahi drawing remains identifiable as a fish and Herati design. This is a description of the Moud pattern tradition; for this individual rug, the documented pattern is specifically the Mahi fish pattern.

Special Features

This piece is catalogued as a Moud Persian rug and is hand-knotted. Its stated material combination is a pile of 100% virgin wool with a 100% cotton warp. The pattern is identified as the Mahi fish pattern. Its knot density is given as approximately 200,000 knots per square metre.

The rug is described as being in very good condition. It has minimal patina at the edges and corners, with the photographs providing the visual reference for this detail. This condition statement applies to this one-off rug. Other Moud rugs may show different levels of wear depending on their age, use and care.

The combination of the Moud attribution, the Herati fish design and traditional Persian hand-knotting summarises the key features of this individual piece. Moud rugs vary in quality and design. For this rug, the specified materials, knot density, pattern and condition are the relevant characteristics.

FAQ

How much is a hand-knotted rug worth?

The value of a hand-knotted rug depends on several factors. These include its origin, the type and fineness of its construction, the material, the colours and the design. Age and condition are also important. Originality, style, visual character and the creativity of the pattern can affect the assessment as well. Rarity, supply and demand in the market also play a role. In the case of a Moud rug, the regional attribution, hand-knotted construction, materials, knot density, Mahi pattern and recorded condition are considered together. No single feature determines the value on its own.

How can you identify a hand-knotted rug?

A hand-knotted rug is made on a loom, with the knots inserted into the foundation by hand. A machine-made rug is produced by an automated, computer-controlled machine. Machine production can therefore be completed much more quickly. Hand-made rugs are also often made primarily from wool, while machine-made rugs more frequently use synthetic materials. To examine a rug, look at the reverse, the knot structure and the fringes. On a hand-knotted rug, the fringes continue from the warp. The reverse shows the individually formed knots and a hand-worked structure rather than a completely uniform mechanical surface.

What does the Mahi pattern mean?

Mahi refers to the fish or Herati pattern. It is one of the established design traditions of Persian rugs and often covers a large part of the field in Moud examples. The pattern combines recurring vegetal forms with an organised, frequently dense composition. Leaves, vines and rosettes may be incorporated into the repeat. Moud rugs can also have a medallion, an all-over arrangement or other traditional field designs. The pattern recorded for this rug is specifically the Mahi fish pattern. The name therefore describes its documented design while also placing it within an important Moud and Khorassan pattern tradition.