Early Kurdish Koliya'i Carpet

Early Northwest Persian Kurdish Koliya'i dating to the early 19th century.

It has a very attractive mina khani design of large flower heads which are loosely connected by an open lattice of tendrils. Smaller flower heads, mostly in white, undyed wool, branch off the tendrils in the open spaces between the larger flowers. The main bordwer is a meander of leaves and rosettes on a dark brown ground; the brown is slightly corrodes, which often occurs in rugs of this age, adding a high-low effect to the texture of the carpet. The two minor borders on a white and yellow ground are also a meander of florals and tendrils.

The design with its random drawing and elegant swerves in the lattice appears to be a tribal version of  the much finer and more regular, sometimes almost rigid mina khani carpets produced in urban workshops from the 18th century. 

It is impossible to say whether the tribal versions preceded the workshop interpretations of the design, but it is credit to the artistic sense of the unknown weaver that this rug is so exceptional.

The quality of the lustrous wool and the natural dyes is outstanding.

Wool on a wool foundation, with a single brown weft.

This rug is in our gallery exhibition of TRIBAL WEAVINGS. BAGS, RUGS AND CARPETS FROM IRAN AND CENTRAL ASIA. 2 - 9 April.

Dimensions

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Stock number