Khomeyn and the Armenian-woven rugs of Lilihan (Lilian)
Khomeyn, also Romanized as Khomeīn, Khowmeyn, and Khūmaīn, is one of the
oldest rug production centers in the Iran’s Markazi Province. Amongest the suburban
villages of the city Lilihan should be mentioned, in which the well-known Lilihan
rugs was woven during 50s and 60s. The raw materials used, the design, the color
and the weave technic of the Khomeyn Rugs, are different from its neighboring
regions, in both antique and new-woven peices.
Khomeyn County is located to the south of the province, in a fertile plain, about 65
kilometres from Arak and 325 kilometres from Tehran. A large number of
Armanians settled in the suburban villages of Arak and Khomeyn, during their
migration within the country.
One of the first Armenian settlements in central Iran is the village of Lilihan, which
has a world reputation for its rugs. Rug-weaving has a strong tradition between
Armenians, and they brought the craft rapidly to the region’s villages. Thanks to its
unique style, Lilihan is the most famous one.
Till 1946 Lilihan was filled completly by Armenian inhabitants, but since then they
left gradually the village. There were more Armenian villages near Khomeyn such
as Kandha, Darreh Shur, Davood-Abad, Mazra, Chahar Taq, Danian and Qurchi-
Bashi.
The main charactristics of Lilihan rugs
Warping the loom: Turkish style with woolen warp
Knot type: Asymmetrical (Persian), the symmetrical (Turkish) knot could also be
possible
Weft: Antique pieces enjoy a thick weft with no thin weft, but new one are mostly
two-wefted.
Design and pattern
The most famous patterns of Lillian and other villages around
are Shakh-e Bozi (Goat Horns) and Mahi-Darham (Fish). There is another village
near Lillian called Basil, the famous pattern of which is Band-e Reyhan.
Size: The region’s old rugs are mostly small-sized. Nowadays big sizes (6m for
instance) are more common.
