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The city of Ardabil (or Ardebil) is located in the north west of Iran, near the coast of the Caspian Sea. The famous "Ardabil carpet" is a 34' x 17' masterpiece, woven in the year 1538 and today housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Old Ardabil rugs make in general use of the Mahi (Herati) design, with a diamond medallion and small fish throughout. Often they have a nomadic look. Many modern Ardabils show bolder geometric patterns. Usually the Ardabil weavers incorporate a lot of silk into the woolen pile to accentuate the highlights in the pattern. In addition to the conventional beiges, rusts and blues, many up-to-the-minute colors can be observed in the newer Ardabil carpets, such as a turquoise and purple. |
