Karaja rug

Karaja rugs and carpets were woven in Northwest Persia starting in the mid 19th century in response to a great increase in demand for rugs internationally. (Karajas are differentiated from Heriz rugs primarily due to being single rather than double wefted. This results in them having a shorter pile and being more supple. ) Prior to that, there were not rugs woven (in Persia) for export that exhibited this stylized (geometric) drawing of plant and flower forms. The lower knot density became the standard for these rugs, which lent to a less formal aesthetic, which remains very popular to this day due to their ability to go with both modern and traditional decor.The use of natural dyes in the Heriz district workshops continued well into the 20th century, setting them apart from city workshops, which began to use synthetic dyes as early as the turn of the century. What was once one of the least expensive rugs is now highly sought after for just these qualities.