KARAJA ORIENTAL RUGS

Karaja oriental rugs (also spelled Karadja, Gharadjeh, Qaraajeh, Gharajeh) are woven in a small, isolated village located in the NW region of Iran, about 35 miles from the weaving center of Tabriz. Access to the village is possible only by a single unpaved road.

These rugs are relatively easy to identify, though some of their designs and their construction can be mistaken for rugs from the nearby weaving areas of Heriz and Hamadan.

This is because they often use a Heriz-like medallion design and their single-wefted construction is similar to Hamadan rugs. (The backs of single-wefted rugs feature every other warp exposed across the width of the rug giving a distinctive pattern of easily defined lines across the rug).

Nonetheless, upon closer inspection, Karaja oriental rugs can be seen to have specific construction and design features that make them quite unique. They fit well into our study of Oriental Rugs by Design. 

CONSTRUCTION 

Rugs woven in Karaja are similar to many of the rugs in the area as far as color, texture, and pile height, but, as mentioned above, they have some unique features, especially in regard to their construction and their designs (see below).

A loosely inserted single cotton weft, (yarn that is inserted from side to side), sometimes dyed blue or light gray, results in rugs that are completely smooth on the back side, quite unlike the rugs in neighboring weaving areas.

Karaja rugs also have heavy double-cord serging on the sides.

The foundation of the rug uses cotton for the warp (up and down yarns) and either wool or cotton for the wefts (side-to-side yarns). The pile is made of handspun wool and is tightly constructed using a symmetrical or Turkish knot. Pre-World War II Karaja oriental rug weavers used natural dyes. Today they are all synthetic.

The fringed ends at the top are usually plain. The bottom fringes have twisted uncut loops.

DESIGNS & MOTIFS

A typical design used in Karaja oriental rug weaving features a brick or red field (sometimes rust) covered with repeating Heriz-style geometric medallions. Another design contains a latch-hook diamond flanked vertically by 2 medallions of simple geometric shapes.

Typical borders of these rugs usually have 3 stripes in navy or royal blue.

A common pattern consists of 3 or 4 very large diamond-shaped medallions extending from one end of the rug to the other.

Motifs are bold and can resemble insects, leaves, and crabs. Karaja rugs can also have floral-like motifs such as paisley or pear motifs usually placed inside diamond shapes. 

COLORS

Older Karaja rugs usually have a terra cotta colored field as their dominant color with navy blue as a secondary color and green accents.

Newer Karaja rugs typically have a Christmas red field.

SIZES 

Karaja rugs are typically woven in small to mid-sizes such as 4x6 to 8x10, though they can occasionally be found in larger sizes. 

Long Karaja runners are some of the finest runners made in Iran.

KARAJA ORIENTAL RUGS TODAY

Karaja runners are some of the most common rugs made in Iran. Rugs from Karaja are generally of moderate quality but quite durable and affordable.

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