The Oriental Collection - Catalog - Page 74
REZAS KELIM RUGS
Kelim Seneh
Seneh in Sanadaj is the capitol of the Kurdistan province of north-western Iran, and
has about 300.000 inhabitants, most of them Kurds from the Gurani Tribe. Seneh
rugs are easily recognisable by their knotting method, as well as the pattern colours
and wool used. They usually have a simple weft, and the back of the rug is often
coarse and grainy, as the wool is spun tightly by hand before the knotting. Sometimes, a firm Bidjar-like knotting can be seen.
Characteristically, the colours are deep blue, green, dark red, and white. Seneh
wool is among the best qualities of wool in Iran: firm and durable, with a deep glow,
a result of the high altitude, the sparse vegetation, and extremes in temperature.
The tribal knotters in the area use the same type of wool. In the 19th century, Seneh
rugs were famous for their fineness and the variation in patterns, while the modern
production is less fine and not as varied.
The Ghiordis knot is usually used, but you will also encounter rugs from Seneh with
the Seneh knot. The typical Seneh rug has a Herati pattern field, with a series of
geometrical medallions, one inside the other, each repeating the pattern with a different ground colour. Sometimes, the older, more uniform patterns are seen: Boteh,
Vekili, Gol-Farang (naturalistic, European style bundles of flowers) or Gol-i-Bulbul
(birds and flowers).
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