POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Bijar kilim from Kurdistan, Iran, mid 1900s

Object No. 85/24

This striking kilim was woven by Kurdish women, probably for sale, using the weft-faced slit tapestry technique much used by weavers from the villages of the Bijar region. Bijar is a predominantly Kurdish town in north west Iran and is the centre of a large rug-weaving cottage industry that includes surrounding villages. The design of the rug may be a variation of the Herati pattern that appears in profusion on Persian pile rugs, and is formed by the coloured weft threads that curve with the pattern. The motifs are probably derived from European tapestry design but have been incorporated into the weaver's traditional design repertoire. The compact construction and clear and strong primary colours of blues, reds, yellows, green and ivory are characteristic of Bijar weaving. Pamela Leuzinger, Research Assistant Design and Society Christina Sumner, Principal Curator Design and Society October 2012

Loading...

Summary

Object Statement

Kilim, weft-face slit tapestry weave, wool or goat hair, made by Kurdish women, Bijar, Kurdistan, Iran, 1930-1950

Physical Description

A weft-face slit tapestry weave kilim in which wool or goat hair have been used for both warp and weft. Centred in the navy blue field is a large ivory-ground medallion featuring floral motifs that are also rather reminiscent of birds, in reds, blues, green, yellows, pink and brown. A border featuring a repeat pattern of stylised floral motifs in the same colour palette surrounds the field.

DIMENSIONS

Width

1410 mm

PRODUCTION

Notes

This rug was made by Kurdish women of the Bijar region in north-west Iran. It was woven using the tapestry technique, in which the pattern is formed by discontinuous wefts in different colours worked backwards and forwards within each pattern area. Vertical slits where the weft threads turn around a warp at the edge of a motif are either minimised and included as pattern elements or avoided by interlocking the wefts or overlapping the design motifs. In kilims from Bijar and neighbouring Sanandai (known for its Senneh or Senna carpets), the weft threads characteristically slant and curve with the pattern. Rugs from both areas are known for their dense and compact construction.

HISTORY

Notes

This rug was purchased in Sydney from Caspian Carpets & Textiles in 1985

SOURCE

Credit Line

Purchased 1985

Acquisition Date

10 January 1985

Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.

Image Licensing Enquiry

Object Enquiry