This banded kilim in shades of undyed, natural brown typifies the resourcefulness and skill of antique village weaving from late Qajjar Persia. Dense, heavy, and woven of thick camel and goat fiber, this rug was made by hand a century ago to endure heavy use in the Kurdish villages of northeast Persia.
A Marriage of Function and Form
The rug’s austere patterning reflects practical necessity. Although it is devoid of traditional decorative motifs, the minimalist design is thoughtfully executed. The weaver sorted the undyed fibers and wove them skillfully into alternating bands arranged by intensity: brown sugar, cappuccino, dark chocolate, and espresso. The weaver chose to insert two sections of narrow bands in creamy white near the rug’s center.
This rug is woven mostly of undyed camelhair, a fact reflected in its predominant hues of warm, mottled mid-brown. The warps and some sections of weaving are goat fiber, a glossier, darker material. The result is a robust rug. Its durability is heightened further by the broad, multi-cord selvedge that protects the rug’s edges.
Kurds of Khorasan
This rug was woven by Kurdish villagers in the Khorasan region of northeastern Iran. Historically, the region has corresponded to a vast swathe of territory across Central Asia, including areas as far north as the Oxus River in Uzbekistan.
today's Khorasan administrative region has a substantial Kurdish population, a result of population transfers and cycles of hostility toward the Kurds throughout history. Contemporary statistics estimate that 696 villages in Khorasan are inhabited primarily by Kurd, yet these villagers remain on the move, responding to the cycle of economic development in a fast-changing region. Rural Kurds, like other Iranians, continue to migrate to larger towns and cities in search of greater economic opportunity.
Those rural emigres have traded in tribal wares, including rugs, to invest toward a more prosperous urban life. This rug arrived on the market through such a process many years ago.
Condition and Use
This rug is in excellent antique condition and entirely original. It is coarsely woven, but extremely hard-wearing, reflecting its utilitarian origins as a village weaving. The fringe remains in-tact on both ends, and the multi-cord selvedge gives added strength.
This rug will withstand heavy foot traffic. A rug pad will provide additional protection and anchor the piece in place, particularly on hard-surface floors.
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