Persian Qashqai of Lion Kilim at Essie Carpets, Mayfair London

Persian Qashqai Lion Kilim

Name: Persian Qashqai Lion Kilim
SKU: 1656
Availability: InStock

Rug #1656

Size: 272 x 173 cm / 8.9 x 5.7 ft

Handwoven in: Qashqai, Iran

Age: Old

Design: Pictorial

Materials: All Wool

Category: Kilims

POA

Persian Qashqai Lion Kilim Pictorial All Wool

This Persian Qashqai Kilim is published in;

PERSIAN RUGS AND CARPETS, ‘The Fabric of Life’, Essie Sakhai, Woodbridge, 2008.

pl. 249, p. 307.

This marvelous ‘Lion’ Kilim from the first half of the 20th century is fairly rare. The Qashqai are well-known for their distinctive and amusing lion gabbeh; these thick, coarsely made, but boldly beautiful rugs have been made the subject of several recent studies. However, lion kilims are much rarer, especially large examples such as this. Noteworthy is how the black geometric motifs arranged in various ways amply illustrate the animals’ shaggy coat, tail and main, how a single pech (swastika), placed within a rayed red diamond stands for the eye. Above the lion’s back there is a single hooked octagon motif within a larger octagon and round the edges of the field is a series of comb-like motifs. Both the octagon and the combs are familiar from the better known Qashqai kilims with abstract geometric motifs and suggest that this example may be by one of the sub-tribes (tireh) making up a major tribe (taifeh) of the Qashqai Confederation, the ardkapan tireh of the Amaleh taifeh. Certainly similar geometric motifs are attributed to the Ardkapan and this example also has the rather unusual colour scheme associated with that group.

Persian Qashqai Lion Kilim. This piece was handwoven by the Qashqai tribal group, 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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