Tehran, Iran, January 9, 2006--Iranian carpet weavers will start weaving a 5,700-square-meter, 80-billion-rial (roughly US $9 million) carpet for the Sheikh Zayed al Nahyan Mosque as of January 21, 2006.
Speaking to reporters, managing director and head of the board of directors of the National Carpet Co., Seyed Jalal al-Din Basam, said that according to the signed agreement, it will be installed at the section of the mosque having 96 pillars by the Iranians.
"However, once it is installed, they may order more pieces to cover the other parts of Sheikh Zayed Mosque," he added.
Concerning the design of the carpet, he termed it unique and said that it is featured by five big medallions depicting various traditional Iranian flower motifs.
"Twenty-five natural dyes will be used and the background will be green. About 30 tons of wool and 15 tons of cotton will be used in weaving the carpet, which is to be 135x46 meters.
"The exquisite handicraft, known as the 6,000-meter carpet will be woven by more than 1,000 highly skilled carpet weavers at three large carpet workshops in Khorasan belonging to the National Carpet Co. It is expected to be completed in two years," he added.
Basam noted that the carpet, which has been ordered by the UAE, will be woven in nine pieces, with the biggest one expected to measure 1,000 square meters.
"Cattle comprise the major motifs of the carpet and the mosque's 96 pillars are included in the carpet design."
Addressing the media, he said that National Carpet Co., does not act on an exclusive basis and added that after weaving a carpet ordered by Oman, the production of large pieces of carpet was taken up.
"This was followed by commissioning a carpet ordered by UAE.
Then the country's private sector received orders for 1500x450-meter carpets," he concluded.
