Kilim wool rug · Qashqai tribal weaving

Medium-size Persian kilim hand-woven by skilled Qashqai weavers in southwestern Iran using quality wool and dyes. This colourful flatweave rug features a vibrant composition of horizontal bands, each displaying distinctive tribal motifs and rich colour combinations, demonstrating the sophisticated design sensibility of Qashqai tribal weaving.

The Craft. Qashqai weavers are renowned for their mastery of kilim technique, creating kilims without pile using the slit-weave method that produces bold, graphic patterns with remarkable clarity. Their traditional techniques allow for the creation of complex geometric and figurative motifs with precise colour transitions and intricate details. Their steadfast commitment to quality dyes produces the vibrant, harmonious colour palettes that distinguish authentic Qashqai work.

The Heritage. The Qashqai are one of Iran's most celebrated nomadic tribes, known for their exceptional rug weaving traditions that date back centuries. As pastoral nomads migrating seasonally between winter and summer pastures in the Zagros Mountains of southwestern Iran, the Qashqai developed a distinctive artistic vocabulary that combines boldness with sophistication. Their kilims served as versatile furnishings for nomadic life - used as floor coverings, tent dividers, and storage bags - while also expressing tribal identity and cultural heritage through symbolic motifs and colour choices.

The Maker. This piece was created by a nomadic Fars woman at the Gollpari weaving workshop in Shiraz. The Qashqai tribes, renowned for their fearless use of colour and masterful composition of geometric and symbolic motifs, created flatweave rugs that served as both practical necessities and artistic expressions for nomadic families.