Contact us to advertise here! info@rugrag.com

Like the rugs mentioned here? Jump to the bottom for purchasing options!

     
 

American Sarouk Oriental Rugs and Carpets

 

American Sarouk

 

american sarouk Hand Knotted, Persian Carpets and oriental rugs

 

 

Common Sizes: Most common are larger, room size carpets such as 9' x 12'.  However, many unusual sizes may be found from 2' x 3' all the way to 12' x 20'.

Approximate KPSI: Generally 100-180, although higher density exist.  Below 100 kpsi may indicate an arak weaving.

Materials:  Wool pile with cotton foundation.

Common Motif: Traditionally an allover design/covered field with floral sprays although medallions with both covered and open field are not atypical.

Distinguishing Characteristics: One of the only rugs in the market to be acceptable with a 'painted' field.

Approximate vintage: 1920's thru late 1950's.

Typical Price Points**:  The 'average'  9' x 12' American Sarouk in fair condition may be found in or around $1750 at retail.  Exceptional condition and quality may be found as high as $10,000 for the same size.  Very high qualities, unique designs, and smaller pieces A 2' x 3' to 4' x 7' in exceptional condition can command as high as $300/sq.ft. 

Signatures/dates:  Atypical

Alternative Spellings: Saruq, Sarook, Saruk

Common Colors: Wine red, navy blue, golds, some colorful accent top colors as well.

 

The American Sarouk is perhaps one of the more popular designs of the 20th century.  The American Sarouk was a genre of rug which was woven in Sarouk, Persia.  The demand, importation and production of such carpets was very high from the 1920's through the 1950's.  While the American Sarouk varied greatly in thickness, some of the more identifiable characteristics include the following:  

1. American Sarouks often feature a red background with blue border, or blue background with red border.  While the color of red varied greatly from a dusty rose to a deep wine red, the use of these reds was almost guaranteed to come with a deep blue.  There were few exceptions to these color combinations.  Blue backgrounds seem to be less commonly found.  Another less commonly found field color was a ivory.  

2. American Sarouks were most often produced with an allover "floral spray" pattern.  While some American Sarouks did feature medallions, they are found in far less frequency.  The floral sprays basically were set into proportion with the size of the carpet, however looked like a cluster bouquet of flowers often in a diamond shape covering the field.  American Sarouks almost never had spandrels in the corners of the field, and most common sizes were 9x12.  It is not unusual to find unique and oversize American Sarouk pieces too.

 


 

Low Investment Range:

Take a look at American Sarouk Design Rugs up for bid on eBay!

 

Medium Investment Range:

Take a look at American Sarouk Design Rugs up for bid on eBay!

 

* Image above: Semi-Antique American Sarouk, approximately 9ft. x 12 ft. Circa 1930.  Photograph as seen on Dilmaghani's Rug Database.

 

American Sarouks which were actually made in Sarouk were made of a very solid quality wool on cotton foundation.  In the beginning of production starting in the 1920's tended to be fairly thin yet dense.  As time went on, changes in demand rendered the rugs a slightly thicker production, and the application of a paint pigmentation to the field of the rugs.  

Perhaps one of the more problematic aspects of acquiring American Sarouk rugs in actually identifying them.  To the expert, it's fairly easy to differentiate a rug from Sarouk or an outlying city.  To the novice, it's very easy to get confused between authentic American Sarouks, Araks with American Sarouk Designs, and sometimes even Hamadan's with American Sarouk designs. 

Here are some simple tips to prevent expensive rug burn

To differentiate an American Sarouk from an Arak: an Arak rarely ever has greater than 100 knots per square inch.

To differentiate an American Sarouk from a Hamadan: take a look at the reverse side of the rug.  If you see the knots are woven on alternating warps, this is a Hamadan or a rug other than a Sarouk. 

 

One or more example(s) photographed above courtesy Dilmaghani & Co. from the inventory of their NY Oriental Rug Warehouse Outlet or NY showroom of Oriental Rugs 

 

Currently rated 4.3 by 3 people

  • Currently 4.333333/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Share this!
Facebook Digg Technorati del.icio.us Google StumbleUpon Live E-mail this story to a friend!
 
     
     
 

Want to purchase rugs like the ones mention in this post? Here are some options...

Arak


Inexpensive: Take a look at Arak Rugs up for bid on eBay!
Moderately priced: Take a look at Arak Rugs up for bid on eBay!
 
     

Look for the RRA Button before purchasing your Rug

Rug Association Members

USA:

AREA RUGS

UK: LITTLE PERSIA

TR: CARPET VIEW

BAV: DJOHARIAN

Become a Member

Seller Guidelines

Rug Rag Social Network Twitter

Rug Rag Social Network Facebook

 

Subscribe