Unique and Rare Antique Persian Qashqai Rug

The Persian Ghashghai tribal group are a historically significant ‘confederacy’ which is made up of a group of once independent tribes inhabiting different areas within the south-west province of Fars. Fars was once the ancient kingdom of Pars, home to the important Persian royal city of Takht-i Jamshid and more familiarly known to us, from ancient Greek, as Persepolis; In turn, Persepolis, a ruin which is now a world heritage site and  close to the present day marketing town of Shiraz.

In brief these independent tribes were formed into a confederacy in the 18th century by the then government to stop the tribes fighting and squabbling amongst themselves and enabling a single head to be identified and made responsible for maintaining the peace with the aim of collecting taxes and providing well trained equipped soldiers if needed for the greater good.  Despite their formal recognition in the 18th century, the tribes had been intermarrying and forming localised confederacies amongst themselves long before this official recognition, confirmed by the growing use of the Ghashghai title from the 16th century onwards.

The principal tribes that make up the Persian Ghashghai confederacy and which are known as weavers of rugs and woven artefacts such as bags and animal trappings, are the Kashkuli, Amaleh, Darrehshuri, Shish Boluki and Sherkalu. These are known as the ‘taifeh’ or principal tribes which can in turn be broken down into ‘tireh’, or sub tribes, namely the Bollu and Igde. Other tribal groups in the Fars area are the Lors and the Khamseh, and there are times when rug patterns, and motifs generally associated with one group can be cross fertilised and used by other groups of tribal weavers, which can occasionally muddy the waters in attribution.

Inevitably in Persian Ghashghai rugs, the styles of designs, the motifs, compositions and colours are shared amongst the entire group creating an accepted homogenous style. There are certain motifs and styles of representation that can be attributed to a taifeh, and even a tireh.

This magnificent rare Persian Ghashghai rug displays all the very best attributes of Persian Ghashghai tribal weaving. Technically excellent with fine detailed rendering of the traditional totemic flora and fauna forms woven with the highest quality of soft lustrous wool. The design is directional with rows of peacock style birds, camels and horses supported by defined rows of stepped polychrome hooked medallions and rosettes, all is infilled with a mass of flower heads, related flora and smaller animals with occasional male and female human forms. The design combines formality identifiable by the defined rows of pattern details, and then informality by the way these rows are arranged seemingly randomly throughout the composition. Such a composition, woven with such detail is a true representation of originality consistent with the very best of Persian Ghashghai individuality. Such individual artistry could only have been created by highly experienced skilled weavers with a full understanding of Ghashghai tradition and ability to create an individual pattern woven from imagination and memory. The dark blue field works as a wonderful backdrop to the saturated jewel like colours defining the pattern details. The range of colours used in this magnificent Persian Ghashghai rug is spectacular and includes the most comprehensive range of colours likely to be seen in any Persian Ghashghai rug. The saturated vegetable dyes indicate that this rug was made in the 19th century. The ivory border encloses continuous hooked poly chrome octagonal medallions linked by a narrow pole. This border pattern is believed to be a characteristic pattern associated with the Sherkalu taifeh of the Ghashghai.

Unique and Rare Antique Persian Qashqai Rug. This piece was handwoven in Qashqai , 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.