Old Bakhtiari | 213 x 146 cm | Nr. Z-4657

Floral old Bakhtiari, rust red with border and medallion

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	213 cm x 146 cm (= 3.1098 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	200.000
Pile height	8mm
Year of manufacture	1940
Colour	Rust red, Dark blue
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

The Bakhtiari (also Bachtiari) are an ancient, widely branching people living in south-western Iran. The collective name for their rugs is Bakhtiar or Bakhtiari, where the ‘i’ corresponds to our preposition ‘of’. Bakhtiari rugs – the rugs of the Bakhtiari – take in numerous sub-provenances with a range of pattern types. For all this breadth, Bakhtiar rugs resemble one another in their colour compositions, in their various handcrafted techniques and in their line, which is always floral.

Bakhtiari rugs are made preferably with natural dyes, which feel pleasant despite their intensity and develop a beautiful patina over time. Common colours are brown for the outlines, plus red, bottle green, yellow and white as a highlight that gives the rug its likeable character. This old Bakhtiari is around 80 years old and a true collector's piece.

Pattern

The ornate border forms a wonderful contrast with the centre and shapes the transition at the edge of the rug.

At the heart of this Bakhtiari's central field lies the symmetrical centrepiece, also known as the medallion. The design of the field is subordinate to the medallion, so that the medallion appears to float on the field.

The lavish floral motifs of this Bakhtiari are elegant and full of variety. The graceful plant symbols, depicting blossoms, leaves and branches, are artfully intertwined.

The background of this Bakhtiari is dark red. Rust red and dark blue also dominate the overall impression. The border is worked in rust red and dark blue.

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this Bakhtiari. It had owners before you who valued it and used it. The rug has a few smaller stains. It was hand-knotted around 1940. We have cleaned it thoroughly and lovingly restored it. That is why – despite its age – it is in very good condition.

Material

The pile of this Bakhtiari was hand-knotted from high-quality new wool. New wool is obtained by gently shearing sheep. New wool is a renewable, natural raw material with a number of impressive qualities: thanks to the natural grease in the wool, the surface repels droplets of water and is therefore naturally protected against dirt. Wool also provides excellent thermal insulation, helps to regulate the indoor climate and dampens sound. The weft and warp threads of this Bakhtiari are made of cotton. This versatile material is both tear-resistant and elastic, which makes it particularly well suited to a hard-wearing foundation.