Yalameh rugs are woven by families of the Yalameh tribe, a group related to the tribes of Fars who settled in villages south of Isfahan, around Shahreza. Their rugs are tribal in design but woven in a settled setting, and they are known for one strong, recognizable layout: a column of stepped, hooked diamond medallions running down the field, in bright, cheerful colors. Yalameh rugs are bold, graphic and durable, and they suit modern rooms particularly well.
| Origin | Villages south of Isfahan, around Shahreza |
|---|---|
| Woven by | Settled families of the Yalameh tribe |
| Knot | Symmetric (Turkish) |
| Materials | Good wool pile, usually on a cotton foundation |
| Typical design | A column of stepped, hooked diamond medallions |
| Common colors | Bright red, navy, ivory, gold, orange and light blue |
The Yalameh look
The classic Yalameh has two, three or more large diamond medallions linked down the center of the field. Each medallion is stepped, with hooked edges, and often has a smaller diamond inside. The space around them is filled with small geometric motifs, stylized flowers and sometimes animals, and the corners carry stepped spandrels. Borders are bold and geometric too. The palette is bright and clear, often with a red or navy field and touches of orange, gold and sky blue. See Geometric vs. Curvilinear Designs.
Some Yalameh rugs use an all-over design of small diamonds or a single large medallion instead, but the column of medallions is the type's signature.
Construction
Because Yalameh weavers work on fixed looms in villages, their rugs are more regular in shape than nomadic rugs. They are woven with the symmetric knot on a cotton foundation with good, lustrous wool and a medium-to-thick pile. They are sturdy and practical, suitable for everyday use.
Yalameh and Qashqai
Yalameh rugs share many motifs and colors with the tribal rugs of Fars, especially those of the Qashqai, and are sometimes sold as Qashqai or Shiraz. The neat, repeated column of stepped diamonds and the regular village construction set them apart.
How to recognize a Yalameh
- A column of stepped, hooked diamond medallions.
- Bright, clear colors, often with orange and sky blue.
- A regular shape and a firm, even weave.
- Symmetric knots on a cotton foundation.
See also Persian Tribal Rugs.
