RUG NAME: Birjand prayer rug, also known as "Lavar Kerman" GALLERY: Birjand CATEGORY: Persian AGE: mid 19th century PRICE: 600 EUR ID(Jozan): no. 2905 DESCRIPTION: 1.25 X 1.82m. Wool on Z8S cotton foundation. Asymmetric knot open left, depressed. Missing plain blue guard at bottom and a bit of same at top, worn, holes, corrosion. For some unknown reason Birjand rugs and carpets are called "Raver" and "Laver" Kerman. The "Kerman" bit is understandable as many of the rugs were marketed there (as well as Meshed) but what exactly the two adjectives are supposed to mean is unknown to me. Essentially the main difference between Kerman and Birjand weavings is that the former were designer rugs and the latter were traditional rugs made primarily for the home market rather than export.
