The Oriental Collection - Catalog - Page 31
REZAS VILL AGE RUGS
Bakhtiyar
Bakhtiyar is the name of two types of rugs: one is produced by nomads in the
Z agros Mountains west of Isfahan in central Iran, and the other more important rug
is produced by permanent residents of the villages in the area.
Only a small percentage of Bakhtiyar nomad rugs reach the market – the most
common are probably bag rugs that combine pile and Kelim work. Rugs from the
villages are more common, and they are produced in numerous mountain villages,
whose inhabitants are of Turkish, Persian or Armenian descent.
They are most often sold in the bazaars of Isfahan. The most common patterns
are medallions and the so-called garden patterns, which are divided into squares
of different garden patterns consisting of roses and other flowers. The pattern has
ancient roots, and is often rustic, as large blocks of colour with heavy contours
are used. Most colours are made from locally produced plant pigments, creating a
strong link between the design, the knotting and overall visual expression, giving a
harmonious effect to the rugs. The knot density of the Bakhtiyar rugs is 150,000 to
250,000 knots per sqm.
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