Bakhtiari

This exceptional Bakhtiari prayer rug originates from the Chahar Mahal region of Central Persia, located between Isfahan and Sultanabad, an area inhabited since the 19th century by the Bakhtiari princes. The Bakhtiari are renowned for their rugs of distinctive character, solid structure and warm radiance, handwoven from locally spun wool of outstanding quality. Their tradition of rug making has been passed down through generations, maintaining the colours and compositions of their ancient heritage. This fine example from around 1935 shows the artistic mastery of the Bakhtiari weavers. On a deep midnight-blue field rises a large vase motif filled with colourful floral branches and birds rendered in soft tones of rose, white, green, red, amber and blue. Along the base lies a stylised green meadow where pairs of lions attack deer, above which stand two large white birds with green heads and tall lime-green trees. In the saffron-yellow spandrels above the arch, serpents are shown approaching small birds, adding mythological symbolism and a sense of movement. The main red border alternates between long white panels with running deer and saffron sections with light-blue rosettes, enclosed by four narrow guard stripes in ivory and amber. The design combines the rectilinear structure typical of village rugs with the more refined composition of 17th-century Safavid workshop art. Warm earthy tones and the natural sheen of handspun wool give this piece both depth and warmth. It is a masterful example of Bakhtiari weaving, uniting precision, symbolism and artistic freedom into a rug of striking presence. An authentic Bakhtiari from Chahar Mahal, beautifully preserved and rich in Persian cultural heritage.