Background
Information on the Amagholi workshop
Amagholi workshop was among the biggest and most famous Persian
carpet workshops in 1900s. It is
associated with the Amoghli brothers: Abdol Mohammad Amoghli(eldest brother)
and Ali Khan Amoghli(youngest brother). Their Persian rugs were the favorite
for Pahlavi shahs and royalties including Reza Shah. The Amoghli manufacturing
unit produced décor products that were used to embellish the Sa’dabad Palace
located in northern Tehran. Amoghli workshop’s items were magnificent and
regal, seeing that some of their best hard-women rugs were brought to the
Niavaran Palace. Amaghli workshop made
some of the hottest Mashad Persian rugs.
Mashad City
The city of Mashad, in northeast Iran, was home to the Amaghali
workshop and many other Persian carpet production workshops. It is among the
most ancient carpet weaving cities in Iran. One of the oldest prayer rugs made
by Perez Topkapi between 1550 and 1556 is thought to have made in Mashad. Being a vibrant city for rug making even
today, Mashad is associated with manufacturers of huge carpets, with medallion
motifs, that are sold under the brand name Meshed. Though the oldest workshop
in Mashad is Soltan Ibrahim Mirza’s, there are recognizable recent ones such as
the Amoghli, also Amoughli, Amu-oghli or Emoghli, workshop. Other famous workshops belonged to the Master
weavers such as the late Abbasgholi Saber, Khamenei, Khadivy, Zarbaf, Zarrineh
and Makhmalbaf among others.
Amoughli rug
making era
Amoghli’s active years are said to be twenty: 1900 to 1920. He was a master weaver in the city of Mashhad
and specialized in Oriental carpet art. Amoghli carpets are signed with his
name and were made of the finest wools, silks and cottons. They often feature
three to five centimeters wide borders on long sides usually in signature blue.
Featuring also the highest density knots and patterns, Amoghli rugs are some of
the most innovatively made in the Iranian carpet weaving history.
Amoghil
works with the late Abbasgholi Saber
Born in 1911, Abbasgholi’s sunset arrived in 1977 at the age of
sixty-seven. This man is known for his five workshops he created during his
lifetime. He had up to three hundred looms and one thousand five hundred
workers. Though he had nine children,
none of these showed interest in the art he committed his entire life to. They
met with Amoghli when he decided to relocate to Mashad. At the time Amoghli was
busy creating large rugs for King Reza Shah.
When Saber arrived in the city, he worked for Amoghli. Then after the
passing of his master, Saber started his own business with only three looms in
Karvansaraye Malek.
Amoghli’s
silk and wool rugs
The popular Amoghli workshops in Mashad released plenty of rugs
that had silk borders, cotton foundations and woolen piles. The 1940s designs are still in vogue and
among the few legendary pieces that puts Iran at the forefront with regard to
carpet weaving. These classic mats had
very fine weave patterning with far-off knot piles. They could contain up to one thousand, three
hundred and sixty-nine knots per square inch.
But the average or standard density for the Emoghli workshop rugs is
roughly nine hundred knots per square inch.
Some classic rugs were made as displays to showcase the technical
prowess of the company. They contain different motifs in terms of themes. You
can find a tall tree, flowers, medallions and other geometrical forms. The size
of mats can vary although most are large and lovely. Use of purple or blue silk flat weave on all
four sides or borders is rather common on these rugs. Color mismatch is not
noted on Amoghli rugs, making them items for doing smart home decorations.
Where to
find Amoghli rugs
There are items that you will find in art galleries in the US that
were produced in 1920s. If getting something rather antique and different
mesmerizes you, Amoghli workshop products are perfect choices. They can be
found in most internet shops that sell Persian high quality carpets. Ensure that your rug has size dimensions and
Amoghli signature printed somewhere. These quality pieces are also great for
item collectors who are interested in rugs.
As they are rare items in other parts of the world, you can sell
the items you have collected for thousands of dollars. Mashad rugs and carpets
are so popular and elegant. But when you have an item that was woven in 1920s
by the Amoghli’s you will feel really blessed.
As you do the shopping, try to read the product description first to get
enough information about it. As aforementioned main colors are variations of
blue, red, khaki and purple. They are rather easy to match with your current
home décor and lovable if you want to collect some for sale.