Bakhtiari

<p><span>The great Bakhtiari tribe of Persia occupy innumerable mountain villages in the Chahar Mahal region of central Persia, which lies between Isfahan and Sultanabad, and which the <em>khans</em>, or princes, of the Bakhtiari, from the ruling Bakhtiar family, purchased from the Persian monarchy in the 19th Century. Expert weavers of rugs of wholly distinctive character and structure since time immemorial, the Bakhtiari continue to this day to knot items in all sizes in the time-honoured compositions and colourings of their ancient tradition. As this example in the <em>dozar</em> (meaning 'two metres') size illustrates, authentic Bakhtiari works combine a rectilinear style of draughtsmanship with a more sophisticated compositional approach based on the classic workshop designs descended from the 17th Century Safavid decorative repertoire. Warm, earthy colours and locally-spun wool of exceptional quality are further Bakhtiari characteristics embodied in this most attractive specimen of this very famous origin.</span></p>