This is an Afshar rug from the nomadic Qashqai tribe in Fars province. Its history goes back to the 19th century; it symbolizes their nomadic life with geometric patterns and pomegranate flowers (or Qashqai tulips) woven for blessing and protection.
The colors in fine rugs are completely natural: red from madder root, blue from indigo, yellow from saffron onion, and green from pomegranate skin. Fine rugs are handwoven with Turkish or Persian knots, and each design carries cultural symbolism, like the central medallion representing abundance.
Design: Navy blue field filled with repeating pink-red bud-like motifs (pomegranate flowers or stylized paisleys); wide cream-white border with blue, green, and orange arabesques. Medium density, hand-knotted wool with Turkish knots. Natural colors: dark blue (indigo), pink-red (madder), cream (raw wool), lapis, and light green (vegetal). Age about 130 years, an authentic Qashqai antique.
Its design is geometric-natural: a navy blue field packed with pomegranate flowers (Qashqai tulips) in pink-red, symbolizing fertility and nomadism. Irregular repeat (afshan/scattered) without a central medallion, inspired by Fars plains. Borders: a main wide cream ramle with curved arabesques in blue/green/orange (birds and branches), a narrow inner border with small flowers, and a side frame red-blue with tiles and paisleys. Called “Qashqai Khatun,”; woven by tribal women with bold lines and vibrant colors for durability. Part of nomadic culture, each motif tells a life story.
Afshar rugs: Famous tile pattern (“Afshar tile”): geometric squares with four-petaled flowers (tulips) inside, symbolizing nomad tents; smallest tribal rugs (1×1.5m). Rare colors: rust red (special madder), deep blue (Afshar indigo), creamy wool; dense weave (500k knots/m²), perfect for migration. Patronized by Nader Shah Afshar (1736-1747), in Qajar palaces and European museums like Victoria & Albert. Cool: Women wove on “portable looms” cryptic patterns for herd protection, now rare, similar to Qashqai but rougher.
Backside: Fully hand-knotted (hand knots and warp fringes), all wool, asymmetrical Iranian knot, medium density. Authenticity signs: subtle asymmetry, color abrash.
Key specs: Qashqai/nomadic Fars style; tribal handwoven (freehand design, not machine). Age: mid to late 20th century (aniline bright pinks). Material: all natural wool; asymmetrical knot (Senneh/Persian); medium durable density. Motifs: large pomegranate/tulip/flower blooms (fertility/abundance), rare Afshan pattern, and borders with small motifs (birds/tiles/paisleys for protection).
