Mughan Rugs
Mughan (Mugan, Moghan) is a historical
land in Azerbaijan. The name has given to
many habitats and places in the area
including a plain north of Ardabil and east of
Caspian Sea. The Mugan plain consists of
five cities: Bilehard, Parsabad, Jafarabad,
Germi and Aslan Duz.
Two third of the Mughan Plain is in
Azerbaijan Republic‘s territory and the rest
in Iran. The plain used on two occasions for
enthroning two Iranian Kings. Both the
founder of their dynasties, Nader Shah
Afshar and Agha Muhammad Shah Qajar,
crowned beneath royal canopies in the
presence of Iranian landlords and tribes’
heads gathered in Mughan plain.
Weaving in this fertile plain has an ancient
tradition. Antique woven pieces from the area
may be branded as Mughan, Moghan or
Caspian Moghan.
An antique Mughan (19th century)
Technical aspects and the structure of Mughan Rugs
An antique Kallegi woven in the Mughan region
Antique Mughan pieces are completely
woolen. Knots are symmetric (Turkish) with
an average density of 72 per square inch.
Carpets and big rug sizes are common as well
as long runners. Kellegi (Kelle) is the favored
size. These are rather wide runners. Rare
small sizes, such as squares are also found.
Dyeing and painting of Mughan rugs
An example of an antique Mughan rug woven in a
rather rare size
Ivory or beige fields are very common. Dark
blue and madder red are also dominant on
antic Mughan palette. Secondary palette
consisted of yellow, camel, green, blue,
madder pink, etc. camel or yellow borders are
common.
Designs and patterns of the Mughan rugs
An antique Mughan rug with camel margin and
midnight blue field
Columns of hooked or stepped medallions
make the majority of antique Mughan
designs. These may include the famous
Memling gul. This is a common carpet motif
named after the European artist Hans
Memling (1430 –1494). He was a German
painter who moved to Flanders and worked
in the tradition of Early Netherlandish
painting. He had used to picture carpets in his
paintings.
Carpets depicted in Memling’s paintings
mostly designed with a motif characterized
by hooked lines radiating from a central
denticulate body, usually framed by a linear
octagon. These hooked lines usually called
ram horns by the weavers.
