The Oriental Collection - Catalog - Page 44
REZAS NOMADIC RUGS
Lori
Lori rugs are made in the Loristan province, which lays in the western part of Iran in
the Zagros Mountains. Loristan is one of the main settlements of the Lori tribe, who
lay name to the province and the rugs from the area.
The tribe is one of the most important nomadic tribes in Iran, and can be found in
the southern and western parts of the country. As opposed to the Kashghai, who
speak Turkish, the Loris are originally Iranian, and their language is similar to Persian.
In recent years, pressure from different areas has forced many Loris to give up their
nomadic lives and settle in villages.
Lori rugs are of outstanding hand knotted quality with knot densities between
80,000 - 150,000 knots per sqm. They are colourful rugs with geometrical and floral
patterns. The rugs are normally placed in two categories. The first are the nomadic
rugs, produced in the southern area, which are called “normal Lori B
ehbehan”. They
resemble the Kashghai rugs and are made entirely of wool but they have a different
series of motifs, and a generous use of clear, contrasted colours; a strong red is
particularly prevalent. The other type of Lori rug is from the city of Khorramabad.
These are squarer and colours are used more cautiously. The patterns show a great
deal of variation, with a hole pattern being dominant. The fringes are often beautifully
weaved.
The designs of Lori rugs capture the traditions of the nomadic rug tribes that
create them. Their rich colours and vibrant designs showcase the unique stories
and folklore that has been shared for generations. The bold blues, vivid reds,
and emerald-like greens are just a few of the dazzling colours that can be found
in these beautiful works of art.
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