Moud
Rugs from this area are characterised by homogeneity in patterns and quality. Warp and weft are cotton and the pile is wool. The trimmings are a version of the traditional Persian turtle trimming. The rugs are produced in all sizes. Moud rugs are often copied in India, because of their remarkable homogeneity. The characteristic Moud designs are among the most uniform, evenly knotted, and easily recognisable designs of the Khorrasan Province. Moud Mahi are made in a beige, light red, or blue tone, with all-over Mahi patterns or with a star shaped medallion. Mahi means fish, and the Mahi pattern is the most commonly used pattern in genuine Persian rugs. When looking at it closely, you can see a pond encircled by four fish.
Origin: Moud or Birjand
Northeast Iran, southern part of the province of Khorassan, Moud is located southeast of Birjand. The most important knotting locations around Birjand are: Dorokhsh, Moud, Asiaban, Pirkhast, Darb Abbas, Derakht-e Tut, Seyyedan, Sirkouh.
Characteristics:
Patterns: Exclusively floral, à great many all-over designs, mainly Herati.
Colours: Very rich contrast, due to the use of red, bleu and Ivory.
Knot density: 2.500 - 5.600 noeuds/dm².
History:
This provenance flourished for thr first time around 1930 where outstanding rugs where knotted for the Shah's palace of Khorassan. Its good réputation penetrated all the way to Birdjand. Encouraged by this, new patterns were developed with high quality materials. Up until then, there was no uniform pattern in the Birjand region; each village knotted its own unique design.
Around 1950, Amini creates the medaillon pattern with its high-contrast colours, wich is still among the most-sold Moud designs today. Sadly, somme immitators want's to benefit from the good reputation of Amini, instead of using high-quality materials, as Amini has done, they resorted to inferior wool. As poor quality rugs clearly constituted the majority, the good reputation was destroyed within a short period of time. Nevertheless, high-quality goods are still being produced with appelation "Moud" small town from which cames the good reputation of Amini.