ORIENTAL RUGS DICTIONARY

Baktiari (Bakhtiar)

The tribal weaving of the Baktiari consist not only the large and ornate saddle-bags and other tent decorations, but also superb rugs woven on wool foundations. Workshop rugs can be distinguished from the tribal pieces by the fact that they were woven on cotton foundations. Those were made in workshops of various sizes in the hundreds of villages in the “Chahar Mahal” valley, owned by the great khans of the Baktiari. 

As a result of oil discovery in the region, these khans turned to be even richer and many large carpets were special ordered for their mansions, with their names inscribed on it. Large size cartouche with signature of the weaver and attributions are a common element in these splendid carpets.