Mahi Tabriz are made from the finest quality wool with silk inlay, a meticulous reproduction of a classic Persian Mahi from the city of Tabriz featuring a teardrop medallion and dark blue oblong field with white spandrels, covered in a repeating Herat motif. A striking addition to any room décor.
What is the mahi design?
Mahi, is a
pattern easily recognized and readily
available. The more appropriate term is
“herati,” named for the city of Herat in what
is now Afghanistan. The mahi
motif is one of the most common patterns
found in Oriental rugs in general and in
Persian rugs in particular. It is a repeating
design, usually small-scale, of rosettes
surrounded by lancet leaves. The mahi rug
may feature a central medallion or an overall
motif, and the general appearance suggests
fish in a pond. Persian rugs with this design
are woven in Hamadan (Hosseinabad),
Sarab Meshayekhi, Tabriz, Bijar, Saroukh
and many other places.What is nice about this repetitive design is that even though the basic idea is very simple, the weaver can still be quite innovative. This type of rug can often be a problem solver for designers. The mahi rug is ideal for those who don’t like large bold, floral or geometric patterns; it is a compromise between curvilinear and angular designs. Some clients report that the small fish design is so busy that it is not busy at all. Almost every rug-weaving country has copied the mahi pattern. The Indian version, especially the Indo-Bijar, is somewhat notorious. Be certain to find out the provenance if you are considering purchasing a mahi rug. Perhaps the best known of the Persian mahi rugs are woven in the city of Tabriz. If there is one type of rugs in which the number of knots per square inch counts, it is in the Tabriz fish design. The tighter weaves of Tabriz are commonly referred to as Maralan. Tabriz carpets usually has silk highlights, which the seller may suggest justifies a higher price, but the better gauge is in tightness of weave.