Candy Strip Cream and Brown Mazandaran Kilim, Iran (c. 1950)

This mid-century Mazandaran kilim is a square iteration of an archaic weaving style with a range of contemporary decorative uses.

Natural Materials, Plain and Simple

The rug’s earthy palette comes entirely from undyed wool in a painstakingly sorted array of warm, natural hues. Candy stripes of chocolate brown and cream run width-wise across the rug. The only deviation is a single thin stripe of caramel brown in the center panel.

The composition is a result of the rug’s unusual origins. It was woven on a narrow ground loom as a single long strip, which was cut into panels sewn with sturdy wool thread into a single, square flatweave. The design lacks borders or traditional decorative motifs, relying instead on its restrained overall visual format.

Rugs from Persia’s Last Frontier

Rugs of this kind come from northeast Iran’s Mazandaran Province, a mountainous subtropical region situated between Tehran and the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Forgoing conventional rug compositions, Mazandaran kilims are prized for their striking visual impact and raw sophistication. So-called Mazani weavings were virtually unknown, even within Iran, until the art world and rug collectors zeroed in on their strikingly contemporary compositions in the 1980s and 1990s. Prized for their improbable discovery, these are among the most sought-after heritage kilims for contemporary decorating purposes.

When woven, these rugs were used as floor covering that were folded and offered as an elevated seat for visitors. Such pieces were also spread out to cover pile carpets and provide a cooler, more comfortable interior space during hot summer months (Tanavoli, Persian Flatweaves, 2002, p. 302-304).  

Condition and Use

This rug is in excellent semi-antique condition. It will withstand normal floor use. Because it is light for its size, a rug pad is strongly recommended to anchor it in place on hard surface flooring.