This early 20th-century Persian Bakhtiari rug showcases the bold geometry and rich palette that define the finest tribal weaving traditions of western Iran. Handwoven by the Bakhtiari people—nomadic and semi-nomadic communities from the Zagros Mountains—this piece centers on two striking diamond medallions with jagged, zigzag edges, each layered within fields of rhythmic stripes and angular ornamentation. The visual intensity continues through a richly decorated border: a wide outer band filled with exuberant floral and vine motifs in large scale, flanked by more delicate inner guard stripes of petite blossoms. Woven in hand-dyed wool, the rug’s palette of crimson, ivory, indigo, golden yellow, and leafy green is both vibrant and harmonious—testament to the Bakhtiari weavers’ deep understanding of color and balance. Remarkably graphic yet rooted in centuries of tradition, this rug brings movement, texture, and a sense of cultural heritage to any space it inhabits.
