Bakhtiari carpet

The Bakhtiari are a tribal confederation inhabiting the areas of west central Persia in the vicinity of Isfahan. While known for their accomplished domestic weaving traditions from earlier periods, the demand for Oriental rugs at the end of the nineteenth century brought new opportunities for these pastoral nomads to establish small cottage workshops and access larger mainly domestic Persian markets. This piece is woven with a quatrefoil lattice design reminiscent of pieces produced in the city workshops of central Iran. The drawing is fine yet playful with a freer conception of spacing than most workshop pieces. Color is adeptly and skillfully applied, and a host of small jewel-like blossoms and foliage in a variety of vivid saturated vegetal colors illuminate against a contrasting modulated saffron ground. Wool is used for both pile and foundation. This should come as no surprise, for at the time this piece was woven, wool was largely the foundation for the economy of the nomads. Natural un-dyed camel wool is even used for highlights. An accomplished and artful weaving in its own right, this piece furthermore documents an important social shift in the history of the Bakhtiari.