Mashad

The city of Mashad, capital of the enormous Khorassan province is located in the North Eastern part of Iran. With a population of 3 million inhabitants, it is the second most populous city and also the holiest city in Iran. Every year more than 12 million pilgrims travel to the city to visit the shrine of the eighth Shia Imam, Imam Reza who is buried here. Mashad has a long and rich history of carpet making and is known for making good quality carpets, often of larger sizes but found in all possible sizes. The wool used in these carpets comes from Khorassan, considered to be among the best quality wool in the country. As a result Mashad carpets are particularly soft to touch. Mashad carpets often resemble Keshan carpets. They generally tend to have a large central medallion, in red and dark blue colour tones sometimes with a distinct purplish hue, adorned with lighter floral herati patterns.