Koliai | 237 x 135 cm | Nr. Z-4231

Geometric Koliai, light red with border and diamonds

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	237 cm x 135 cm (= 3.1995 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	240.000
Pile height	7mm
Year of manufacture	1950
Colour	Light red
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

Koliai (also Koliajy, Koliahi, Koliay) rugs are rustic, hand-knotted rugs made by the Kurds of western Persia. Koliai have a relatively deep pile and a solid, voluminous weave using the Turkish knot, and some are knotted on a woollen foundation (weft and warp threads of wool).

When it comes to knotting rugs, the Kurds draw on all the classic provenances (source, origin). They don't copy the traditional patterns slavishly, though — they interpret them in their own way. The colouring in particular often differs considerably from the original patterns. Among Koliai rugs you will therefore find the most varied designs, but usually in a rather dark palette.

Pattern

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

The abstract, geometric composition is what gives this Koliai its understated elegance. The pattern flatters the way a room is arranged and never steals attention from the furniture, the décor or the architectural features. It settles beautifully into any setting and complements a room's furnishings in a subtle way.

In the pattern of this Koliai it is above all the diamonds that stand out. A diamond is a rhombus standing on one of its points, and in the Oriental rug its four equal sides can be serrated, stepped or set with hooks. The diamond is one of the oldest basic forms in the Oriental rug. In the Islamic world it carries a symbolic meaning: it stands for the immortality of the soul. That is why it is so often found as a filler motif.

The surface of this Koliai has a mottled look. The shifts in tone and the light-and-dark shading of the pile yarn make the colours shimmer and keep the rug forgiving of dirt. These so-called colour shifts, known as abrash, give the rug a livelier feel. The mottling comes about because the wool of this Koliai was hand-spun. During dyeing, the natural dyes are absorbed to differing degrees.

The background of this Koliai is light red. The border is worked in dark grey and light red.

Condition

You're not the first to take a liking to this Koliai. It had owners before you who valued it and put it to use. The pile is evenly worn. In a few places you can see some white threads. That is entirely normal with older rugs. These are the knot ends of the weft and warp weave, which work their way to the surface over the years. In substance, it's not a major issue. It was hand-knotted around 1950. We have cleaned it thoroughly and restored it with care. Despite its age, it is therefore in very good condition.

Material

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