Qashqai – 252 x 170 cm

The Qashqa’i are famous for their skill as carpet weavers. Weaving traditionally takes place in the summer pastures when the evenings are longer. It is undertaken exclusively by women. The rugs are made entirely of wool, the Qashqa’i being nomadic they have no access to cotton or other fabrics. There is no division of labour and the rugs ae generally woven from the family’s own sheep, shorn, sorted, carded and spun by the family which creates the rug and which will ultimately use it. There is extensive use of natural dyes though the Qashqa’i love bright colours and will often introduce tiny highlights of synthetically dyed wool to brighten up the designs. The traditional background colour is red, and most of the rugs have an odd number of central medallions; one, three or sometimes five. All-over designs are rarer. A particular rare piece as this has two medallions and woven finely but with a relatively thick pile