840. a fertile old Qashqa'i Shiraz Persian rug

840. Provenance: Qashqa'i Confederacy of Tribes, Fars Province, southern Persia

Size: 240 x 160 cm

Age: Circa 1940.

Condition: Some wear and corrosion. Sides and ends are securred and strong.

Notes: The Qashqa'i are a confederacy of tribes in southwest Persia, many of whom have been there from as early as the 11th century and are mostly of Turkoman origin. Older pieces (and some modern) are tribal and fully nomadic in origin, though many Qashqa'i are now sedentary and weave more commerical designs on cotton foundations. Pieces of coarser quality may be sold as 'Shiraz', the name of the city through which most meet the market. This example has a wealth of tribal motifs and animal figures, and is of an all-wool construction - a true tribal.