Sulatanabad rugs and carpets
Ziegler was an Anglo- Persian carpet business in the 19th and early 20th century.
History
The company was founded by Swiss entrepreneur Philip Ziegler in Manchester. In addition to weaving was a trading house. The company operated under Company Messrs. Ziegler & Co. Ltd.. and worked very successful over the duration of his over fifty year history. At first, the company's success, founded on the sales of domestic cloth products in the East to Persia. The special trade relations of the British Empire helped with his " protectorate " Persia. In addition, a decree of the Qajar Shah Nasir al -Din was opportune that allowed by decree in 1872 that foreign autonomous production in the country was possible. This offer was aware Ziegler and built in Sultanabad (now Arak ) 's own carpet production. The choice of this location was not alone due to the fact that there was already a central trading forum, but an internal Iranian infrastructure network between Tehran and Baghdad Hamadān and Kermānšāh could be used.
Approximately 1890 to 1930 was merino wool from Manchester imported and processed because it was very soft and fine ( the headquarters of the company Ziegler ).
The demand for cloth products in Persia grew, as did the European demand for oriental rugs. The proceeds from the cloth sales were reinvested in native Persian products that were exported from questions of convertibility of the tender Persian Rial essentially against pound sterling to India. However, this threatened the risk of the Versiegung the resources of Iranian carpets. The one met to the extent that now have their own carpets in Iran were produced. The quality of the rugs decreased significantly while, quantitatively, however, could well be kept step with the ever-growing demand. Pile yarns were treated aniline colors ( chemical) and aligned with the production of labor. This ensured, on the one hand to do business inexpensive, on the other hand push forward the production of high impact strength. These circumstances also came to meet that pretty quickly -fading aniline dyed carpets enjoyed drastically increasing popularity in Europe. The goods exported were on the axes Istanbul - Vienna deleted one hand, and Bombay on the other.
In order to stimulate their own productions, the company cooperated initially with the company Ginzkey and Reichert, to take advantage of their local knowledge. In addition, the company was able to use the home industry for their purposes. There were trade agreements with the local agents ( ʿ Amels ) closed with the content to create conditions for the exchange of raw materials ( colored wool and patterns ) and to discuss trade price ranges for sales. The ʿ Amels offered in return for very useful services; they distributed the materials to local weavers who were seeking their own small family businesses. They also monitored the weaving processes and personally collected the finished products back in so they could be introduced after a thorough inspection in the warehouses of the company Ziegler. The inexpensive tradable through these process steps carpets ( Knot density approximately 120.000 knots / m²) were able to be mass produced.
The increasing demand made additional production necessary: First, sites were built in Tabrīz and Rast ( 1867), later in Mahal and Mosch Kabad. Throughout the company's history, a total of only about 111 villages around Sultanabad Ziegler at factory sites. The rug patterns were the flavors of the Safavid period with patterns borrowed without central medallion. Beige ivory funds dominated the basis of corresponding demand. The Persian rug was subject therefore increasingly foreign country flavors in total declining quality. On the other hand, jobs in Persia could be created. The industrial high degree of professionalism finally allowed supply guarantees.
Increasingly created competition among the foreign companies in the Persian market. The Dutch Hotz & Son, the Italo- British " Castelli Brothers Co. ", the American " The Eastern Rug and Trading Company of New York" and ultimately the German Petag are examples of this process. Other negative factors in particular Armenian fellow, who had good relations overseas to the United States. However, the size of Ziegler with only 3000 looms in Sultanabad ( Arak ) reached no.
The Ziegler acted as a negotiator for one of the most spectacular carpet transfers of history. 1890 helped the company the oldest dated carpet in the world, the Ardabil carpet from the years 1539 to 1540 and its twin piece from the Mosque of Ardabil sell abroad.
The impact of the global stock market slump and in particular the subsequent global economic crisis made the market in 1928/ 29 within a very short time naught.
Trivia
The machine made in England, very much cheaper import textiles found from the beginning like hotcakes - and soon crowded the local Weber products from the market. This had a devastating effect on jobs. The poet and Nobel Prize winner Gerhart Hauptmann describes this social upheaval vividly in his drama Die Weber.