Antique Persian Senneh Kilim

Senneh, (present day Sanandaj), is a town in Kurdistan, North West Persia, and was an important regional centre and provincial capital of Persian Kurdistan in the early 19th Century during the reign of Fath’Ali Shah. Antique Persian Senneh kilims are a relatively small and rare group of weavings.

Senneh is particularly well known for the weaving of technically fine decorative furnishing rugs. They display extremely fine detailing and delicate patterns. Apart from pile knotted rugs, extremely fine antique Persian Senneh kilims originate from there. They echo the traditional patterns seen in their pile rugs. Influenced by the sophisticated embroidered and woven textiles of the Qajar period, rather than by local or tribal traditions, the antique Persian Senneh kilim are a relatively small and rare group of weavings. It is likely that these fine Persian kilims date back to at least the late 18th Century. Known extant examples appear to date from the late 18th and early 19th Century. These antique Persian Senneh kilims are often of prayer rug format, and form a recognisable rare established group. This is defined by the technical fineness and  pattern motifs presented. This includes boteh, stripes, and herati.

Although this magnificent Persian Senneh kilim is not of prayer rug format it displays other distinguishing features and attributes of the group. This, defined by the striped medallion presented in wonderful characteristic colours with alternating, ivory, ochre, dark blue and terracotta varying sized stripes.

The pattern details are presented in varying shades of green, red, salmon pink and ochre. In this example the blue field is characteristically adorned with evenly spaced ‘in and out’ alternating finely drawn curvaceous boteh. The diagonal banded border with red and ivory border is a characteristic border pattern seen in these exceptionally fine antique Persian Senneh kilims. The minor ivory borders show a more traditional style of pattern drawing associated with fine antique Persian Senneh piled weavings. This is defined by the presence of small two toned red and alternating ochre and red flower heads issuing from continuous meandering curvilinear vines.

This antique Persian Senneh kilim is a fine example related to this small yet historically significant group of definable Persian weavings.

Fine and Rare Antique Senneh Kilim Rug. This piece was handwoven in Sanandaj (Senneh) , 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.