Persian Bakhtiari Extra Large Carpet

Rug #1064
Size: 645 x 420 cm / 21.2 x 13.8 ft
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POA

Persian Bakhtiari Extra Large Carpet Allover design Wool Pile

 

A Magnificent Persian Bakhtiari Carpet, North West Persia, Wool on Cotton Foundation,

Mid 20th century

With a ‘Garden’ design, displaying five columns of square reserves each enclosing a variety of flora forms including vases issuing floral bouquets, weeping willows, plants and blossoming trees, within an ivory border enclosing continuous abstract polychrome octagonal medallions and alternating cartouches.

The name Bakhtiari can apply either to a place or tribal group. Geographically, it refers to the province west of Esfahan called Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari, (‘the four valleys and the Bakhtiari country’), one of the most beautiful and fertile areas of Iran, in the foothills of the Zagros mountains.

In the latter half of the 19th century its main landlords were the Khans of the Duraki family of the Haft Lang Bakhtiari, one of the two moieties into which the Bakhtiari were divided (the other was the Chahar Lang). Wealthy through land and livestock, the Khans began to build great, lavishly furnished palaces for themselves in the 1870’s and 1880’s; then in the early 20th century they were made immeasurably richer by the discovery of oil in their winter pasture lands in Khuzestan. They established weaving workshops in many of their villages, which subsequently became towns. Though initially the workshops probably wove carpets and rugs exclusively for the Khans’ own use, their commercial potential soon became obvious and by the 1930’s those in the leading centres of the Chahar Mahal- Shahr Kord, Shalamzar, Ghafarrukh, Chahal-I Shotor, Shamsabad,, farah Dombeh, Saman, as well as significant weaving centres in around 70 other villages, turned this area into one of the most productive weaving districts in Iran.

This magnificent Persian Bakhtiari carpet is a remarkable work of Persian Bakhtiari weaving. The design displays a frequently seen composition in Persian Bakhtiari weavings, defined by the panelled design. Its origins stem from the Safavid 17th century classical ‘garden’ design, which appear to have been made in court workshops in north- west Persia at that time. These original carpets show square or rectangular panels enclosing floral elements of a Persian palace garden, with each panel defined within a water course border arrangement. This format then evolved into panels as seen in this Persian Bakhtiari carpet, resembling an all over interlocking tile pattern. The interpretation of this design in this Persian Bakhtiari carpet is powerful and highly decorative. The pattern motifs are simplistically drawn, reminiscent of a persian Bakhtiari tribal style of drawing, yet made in a town or village workshop, woven on a cotton foundation, and of rare large size. The border pattern is unique, and adventurist in style. The simplistic bold abstract motifs seen in this border magnificently compliment the main field activity, enhancing the overall visual impact. The Persian Bakhtiari weavers are particularly well known for their dying skills, and they produce a consummate range of colours which are jewel like, rich and saturated.

This Persian Bakhtiari carpet displays a unique and rare range of complementary colours. Varying shades of red, green, blue and saffron are combined and juxtaposed magnificently to maximise the visual appearance of the composition and which would suit both traditional and contemporary interior settings.

This magnificent and unusually large Persian Bakhtiari is a fine and rare example of Bakhtiari weaving, presenting an adventurist combination of pattern motifs, derived from both urban and tribal tradition. Combined with the exceptional harmonic colour selection, this Persian Bakhtiari carpet demonstrates Bakhtiari woven artistry at its most accomplished.

 

 

 

Persian Bakhtiari Extra Large Carpet. This piece was handwoven in Bakhtiari , Iran. For further information please contact us and our team will be pleased to assist you. All pieces in the collection are under the auspices of Essie Sakhai, one of the world’s foremost experts and collectors of fine handmade Persian rugs and carpets.

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