Bijar | 140 x 90 cm | Nr. Z-4453

Bijar, rust red with border, medallion and diamonds

Origin

This rug was knotted in Bijar, in the province of Kermanshah in north-western Iran. Bijar rugs are among the sturdiest and finest Oriental rugs. The majority of the population in Bijar are Kurds.

The Kurdish Bijar is woven with an unusually thick weft yarn that is extremely hard and beaten down tightly. The result is a board-stiff rug that stands up to very heavy use. Younger Bijars in particular are graced with the typical Herati pattern, which is also known as the fish pattern. This piece is a particularly sought-after Bijar rug. It is what is called a Bijar Tekab.

Pattern

The edge of the rug is framed by a decorative border. The border forms a beautiful contrast with the centre.

In the middle of this Bijar's central field lies the symmetrical centre, 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.

In the pattern of this Bijar it is above all the diamonds that catch the eye. A diamond is a rhombus standing on one of its points, and in an Oriental rug its four equal sides may be serrated, outlined with stitching or set with hooks. The diamond is one of the oldest basic forms in Oriental rugs. In the Islamic world it carries a symbolic meaning: it stands for the immortality of the soul. That is why it appears so often as a filler motif.

The background of this Bijar is rust red. The border is worked in dark blue, beige and a mix of bright colours.

Condition

This Bijar has a history. Over the years the sunlight has shifted its colours slightly. It was hand-knotted around 1980. We have cleaned it thoroughly and lovingly restored it. Despite its age, it is therefore in very good condition.

Material

The pile of this Bijar 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 properties: thanks to the natural lanolin content of the wool, the surface repels droplets of water and is therefore naturally protected against dirt. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, helps to regulate the indoor climate and dampens sound. The weft and warp threads of this Bijar are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and elastic, which makes it particularly well suited to a hard-wearing foundation.