Tabatabaie is a trade name given to better quality versions of Tabriz rugs.
Tabriz rugs are among the most beautiful and legendary Persian carpets ever built. Tabriz is an ancient city in North Western Iran and it is probably responsible for producing the largest percentage of all Persian rugs. There can be many different unique designs but most of the time the pattern in a Tabriz rug is filled with dense floral motifs, with large palmettes, vases, foliage, and small flowers and garden elements scattered with wild profusion. The quality is exceptional in Tabriz made carpets. Many colors can be seen, such as burgundy, red, ivory and different creams, baby or navy blue, tan, or green. There can be rugs of this type with a medallion or without one, and geometric designs are also seen sometimes. Tabriz has sub-styles as well. These include the world renowned elegant 'Mahi' (fish/Herati) and the beautiful Tabatabaie designs. The Mahi is probably one of the most elegant rug designs in the world. It consists of very small intricate fish like elements scattered neatly throughout the many borders and medallions of the carpet. The colors are usually dark and silk is often used in conjunction with the wool to accentuate the highlights of the rug. The city of Tabriz is eminent around the world because of its incredibly rich history. Some fine Tabriz carpets have been auctioned for well over a million dollars. There is no questioning the absolute beauty and elegance that a fine authentic Tabriz Persian rug will to one's home. Tabriz is one of the oldest and well-known rug producers in the world. The history of over 1000 years of Tabriz is accentuated by invasions, wars, occupations, and of course, its rug exporting industry. From 1499-1722, the Safavid Dynasty, was the golden era, when the Safavids overthrew the Turks occupying Tabriz. Given one of the first Royal workshops, Tabriz has kept its tradition of being an artistic focal point of Persian culture alive. Today, many Tabriz rugs emulate the style of the Safavid rugs. When commissioning a pattern for hand weaving, a designer will likely visit Tabriz. It is not uncommon for signatures of master weavers to be woven into their fine works. Although signatures can be found on fine rugs from other cities, the signature on a Tabriz Naqsheh?s ?ceremonial boarder? is the epitome of formality and sophistication. Wool, silk, and a combination of the two are used in the weaving of the rugs, with a Kurk wool and silk blend being common as wool is only used in average quality rugs. Silk is the foundation on finer rugs which can see 18 or 24 karat gold threads often woven in, while 300 to 800 KPSI is not uncommon. The only comparable rugs to the Tabriz are Isfahans, Kashans, Kermans, Nains, and Qums. Most spectacular are the Nagsheh (some of the many hundreds of beautiful patterns are still owned by private families), the intricate, restrained Mahi (the Decorator's carpet), or the magnificent Dome, depicting the internal architecture of a mosque.