Another example of faded motifs.

Another example of faded motifs.

There is barely a trace of any identifiable motifs for the weaver to follow in pile implementation.

However, Mohammad Nooraee’s fifty years of experience pays off in finding what could be the motifs in this antique Shiraz.

This is an authentic Persian Shiraz made out of pure long-fibered wool, organically dyed, circa 1810. It is unique in having the same color in border & field, a minimal palette, three medallions, stunning lachak, original obrush, and varying shades of rust & navy.

Symptoms: Almost one third of the rug is moth-eaten. Since both foundation & pile are wool, the damage is severe and often results in holes and the pile of the rug partially left with no motifs. The fringe on both sides has unraveled, edges of both sides have unraveled, penetrating to the borders.

Several shades of rust wool thread are spun together in order to blend with the exact shade of antique rust in the background of the rug . It requires high levels of talent in dying and mixing different shades to blend perfectly with the antique rug.

Pile implementation in antique rugs, like this Shiraz with blurry motifs, is a task for highly skilled weavers. The motifs and pattern are faded, leaving no trace left for her to follow and choose the yarn to weave according to the faded shape on the foundation. Asymmetry adds complexity. She cannot mimic the other side of the rug . She will be using her imagination and conceptualization abilities, a gift that some are born with that others can never learn from any school or training.