Qashqa’i rug, Exhibition ‘South Persian Tribal Rugs’

Qashqa’i rug

from southern Persia

circa 1880

Size: 186 x 137 cm

We know very little of the origins and early history of the Qashqa’i. The name can be traced back to the 16th century when Shah Abbas (1587-1629) gave authority to Jani Agha Qashqa’i over the various Turkmen tribal nomads of southern Persia. According to their own traditions, the Qashqa’i’s original home was in the region of Kashgar in eastern Turkestan. The focal point in this rug is the white ground central medallion with variations of this floral palmette appearing in the four corner spandrels. Such an arrangement is common to many south Persian weavings. Perhaps the most attractive aspect of the rug is the blue field featuring an allover pattern of elegant and quite complex boteh or paisley motifs.