Bijar | 210 x 138 cm | Nr. Z-4452

Bijar, light red

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.

In the Kurdish Bijar, a particularly thick and extremely hard weft yarn is beaten into the weave. The result is a board-stiff rug that is exceptionally hard-wearing. The younger Bijars in particular are decorated with the typical Herati pattern, also known as the fish pattern.

Pattern

The decorated surround (border) forms a wonderful contrast to the centre and shapes the transition at the edge of the rug.

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.

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.

This Bijar has enormous character. The labyrinthine background is hypnotic and incredibly detailed. The repeating elements in the central field of this Bijar rug have no specific centre (what is known as a repeat pattern). The recurring pattern feels calming, yet never dull. Rugs with a repeat pattern are also described as all-over patterned.

The background of this Bijar is light red. The border is worked in light red and dark blue.

Condition

This Bijar has had admirers before you. It was hand-knotted around 1980. We have cleaned it thoroughly and restored it with care. So despite its age, it is 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.