Description

This contemporary Bidjar carpet was made by a weaver from the Kurdish part of northwest Iran.

Its design is based on a vagireh, or ornak, those woven samplers with a usually  highly artistic impact.

The enormous vases facing each other in the centre contain a bunch of light blue flowers at the top and red flowers with the same light blue centre at the bottom. Large, elongated elements, possibly of zoomorphic origin, flank the vases in pairs on either side. A very wide main border at the bottom of the carpet contains large plant patterns which are filled with a dense network of arabesques, and tendrils which are reminiscent of cloud bands. The main borders on the remaining three sides , also on a dark blue ground, are formed by a meander of flower heads in the colours of the field.

The field is based on a warm red background which is nicely abrashed. A riot of colours, including a strong light green, together with the expressiveness of the shapes both give this carpet an air of flamboyance rarely found in carpets. For a very similar carpet, but on a much smaller scale, see https://www.christopherleggeorientalcarpets.com/products/view/persian-bidjar-rug/on this website.

All the colours are derived from natural dye stuffs, the red from the root of the madder plant and the shades of blue from indigo.

The carpet is of the highest quality of wool and weaving. It is a bold statement in a contemporary as well as a traditional interior.