Bakhtiari
Type: Persian Rug
Location: Chahār Mahāl and Bakhtiārī Province (Zagros Mountain Region)
Knot Density: 150,000 - 250,000 knots per square meter
Features: Garden motifs featuring plants and animals
Pile: Wool
Bakhtiari rugs are traditional rugs born in the area around the Zagros Mountains in western Iran (Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province), home of the Bakhtiari tribe.
They are woven in the Bakhtiari region, which spreads across the Zagros Mountains about 400 km southwest of Tehran (the capital)
Originally woven by Bakhtiari nomads, they are now also made in settled communities.
These rugs use thick sheep's wool, and their high durability is a major feature.
Their character differs from city-workshop rugs made with soft kork wool: they are woven with firm, resilient wool. Many are tightly packed and carefully woven, which is another part of their appeal.
Garden motifs are the most representative design for Bakhtiari rugs, and many feature plants and animals symbolizing nature. Especially famous are the garden-panel layouts divided into squares or rectangles, called "Kheshti (Khesti)" or "Bardeh," and finely woven workshop pieces are also known.
Central medallions and repeating geometric and floral patterns are also common.
