Qashqai (Ghashghaee) rugs are woven by the notoriously colourful Qashqai tribe- Iran's last roaming tribe in existence. Almost completely self-sufficient, they rely upon the health and well-being of their flock, which provides the invaluable wool from which they produce beautiful hand-woven rugs, saddle bags and more to trade with nearby towns and cities.
In the summer the tribe travel up through the cool Zagros mountains where they hold an annual shearing, harvesting the wool from their sheep to produce items of practical and decorative use. In the winter months they return to southern Iran, selling any surplus materials and produce, including crafts, to the markets of Shiraz. It's from here that the world receives the vast majority of the beautiful hand-woven pieces that the tribe produces.
Characteristics of Qashqai Rugs
As Qashqai rugs are sold and marketed in Shiraz, they are often mistakenly identified as being from Shiraz. The fact that Shiraz produce their own rugs that are very similar in appearance only adds to this confusion. Ultimately, Qashqai and Shiraz rugs can be differentiated through the quality of their weaves- Qashqais are consistently superior in quality.
A very unique element of Qashqai rugs is that they are woven on the move, looms are delicately taken down when leaving one destination and re-installed when they arrive at the next. This practise has brought about rugs unlike any other where patterns are squished in to finish a rug before they leave or bowing in the rug as the tension on the loom has changed when they moved, also colloquially known as pregnant rugs. However none of these characteristics are negatives for the Qashqai people or the owners of their rugs, they are glimpses into the life of the weaver, a calling card to their history and a talking point when sharing the rug with friends or family.
Qashqai rug designs are usually inspired from the surroundings, featuring animals, flowers, trees and people close to the weavers, which are then woven by memory in a primitive geometric style. Diamond shaped central medallions and abstract shapes are also commonly woven in a geometric style.
There are varying qualities and styles of rugs that this enigmatic tribe produce, the most well-known being Gabeh rugs, characterised by a thick woollen pile, and a relatively coarse weave, there are also Kashkkoli rugs, these feature a slightly thinner woollen pile and a much tighter weave, these are usually reserved for tribe leaders or are woven as gifts for special occasions (Weddings). Then there are Loribaft rugs, these are some of the finest rugs that the tribe produce in modern times, typically featuring more complex designs than commonly found in there weaving. Examples of all 3 of these types of rugs can be seen below;
Then there are the rarest, most sought after and valuable of the Qashqai rugs, that are no longer produced due to their time consuming nature, intricate designs and fineness. These are Khamseh rugs, these will always be 90 years or older as it is around 90 years ago they stopped producing these, they feature the tightest weave of any rugs produced by the Qashqai tribe and most intricate designs. An example of a Khamseh rug can be seen below;
The tribe's rugs are always woven entirely from wool and are dyed with natural vegetable dyes.
Examples of Qashqai Items
The Qashqai tribe first and foremost produce items for their own practical use- hence saddle bags and small handwoven mats for sitting on are common. Larger decorative rugs are also woven by the Qashqais to add comfort and warmth to their living quarters. Symbolic rugs are often woven for special ceremonies such as weddings and as welcoming presents.
Pictured below in order: Qashqai rug, Qashqai bag, Qashqai rug, Qashqai runner
