Shiraz Rug: 155cm x 118cm

Shiraz rugs are the work or nomads and are fairly soft. Traditionally these rugs were knotted on a foundation of wool and cattle-hair, with a woolen pile. Qashgai tribes make these lovely rugs and many of them are collected for transport in the town of Shiraz in southern Iran. Shiraz pieces are generally more loosely knotted than, for example, Qashgai rugs. The colours of the ground are red and blue, more rarely cream, and often rather defined. The design usually bears a stepped diamond out-line which encloses a number of stylized, geometrical animal and flower patterns. In rugs from this district the edges are often bound with different colours of worsted, and it is not unusual to find little tassels adorning them.This particular work shows the three traditional interlinked stepped diamond medallions, the middle and largest with a burgundy ground, and the two that flank it bear deep blue grounds. The whole of the filed is beautifully sprinkled with a myriad of motifs including the tree of life, flowers, rosettes, stars and pine and leaf. The piece still manages to be symmetrical and this is testament to the skill of its craftsman. A wonderful piece that will age with beauty.