Bakhtiari Carpets

Bakhtiari carpets or Bakhtiari rugs derive their name from Bakhtiari tribe. The tribe resides in the South West of Iran. It is one of the oldest tribe engaged in the manufacturing of rugs and carpets. In the beginning of the 19th century, Chahar-Mahal area of the region began to manufacture excellent quality rugs that came to be known in the world market as Bakhtiari rugs. Bakhtiari rugs and carpets are original in design and retain their tribal identity and purity.

The major production center of these carpets is at southeast of Isfahan in Shahr-Kurd. Some other countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc are also producing these rugs.

Patterns and Designs
The most popular patterns used on the Bakhtiari Carpets include geometric, semi-geometric, and curvilinear. The design is unique and beautiful and is generally crowded. Bakhtiari rugs and carpets feature mostly gardens consisting of various compartments like square, rectangular, diamond, or hexagon. Every compartment contains floral motif like willow tree, a cypress tree, a bush, a grapevine, a vase containing flowers, or a bird sitting on a branch etc. Motifs can be represented in the compartment in different ways. For example one motif is repeated in every compartment or one motif is represented only in one compartment and not repeated. Usually every compartment differ with neighboring compartments both in terms of colors and motifs.

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The motifs can be displayed all over the layouts with or without the panels. Other designs and patterns include large medallions, vase, all-over boteh, and tree-of-life. Lattice design in a decorated field with floral ornaments are distinctly executed in the Bakhtiari carpets of Saman.

Colors
The distinctive feature of Bakhtiari rug and carpet is that it uses many colors that are bright and give charming appearance to the carpets. These carpets particularly known for the amazing variety of colors they used. Bakhtiari rugs have the capability to fill your living and Drawing room with the splendor. The colors used are deep reds, bright blues, navy, green, brown, ocher, and beige.

Weaving Style
Different types of knots are applied for weaving these carpets. The manufacturers mainly use symmetrical Turkish knot but in Shahr-e-Kurd region weavers use the asymmetric (Persian) knot. The carpets are sold under the name of Bakhtiari. But sometimes they are also marketed by the name of the place (village) where they are woven. Chahal Shotur, Saman, or Farah Dumbah are the name of some villages by whose name Bakhtiari rugs and carpets are sold. The rugs that are finely woven are referred as Bibibaffs, which means "woven by a woman".

Texture and Foundation
Texture is both coarse and fine depending on the wool used. The texture is glossy and fine if soft wool is used. The pile is weaved tightly and is clipped medium-high to high. Warp and weft are generally made of cotton.

About Bakhtiari Tribe
The Bakhtiari tribes are a nomadic group migrated to Persia from the plains of west-central Persia into and over the Zagros mountains. The migration of the tribe is among the most spectacular known among nomadic pastoralists anywhere. There is no clear records of their origin but they speak Persian dialect Luri. These tribes have still managed to preserve their culture and traditions.