Vintage Qashqai kilim from Iran. 188-178x138 cms

A playful kilim with a vibrant design and bold, bright colours. The turquoise-blue band features a beautiful abrash—a natural variation in dye that creates a subtle, painterly effect. The motifs floating atop this blue strip add a sense of depth and movement to the composition.

While the weaver primarily used geometric patterns, a closer look reveals a pair of charming peacocks with long, elegant tails next to what appears to be a seed bag—adding a whimsical and symbolic touch to the piece.

The most striking feature of this kilim is its uneven length, with one side noticeably shorter than the other. This could be due to two possibilities. One is that the weaver was still learning her craft—but this seems unlikely given the high level of skill visible in both the central field and the detailed border. The second, more plausible reason is that she had to stop weaving due to a life event, such as migration, and resumed the piece on a different loom or under different circumstances.

Whatever the reason, this kilim stands out as a truly unique creation—and is sure to become a captivating talking point wherever it’s displayed.

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool

Size:188- 178 (shortest size)x138 cms

Origin: Qashqai tribe, Iran

Date of weaving: 1980-90s

Turkic-speaking pastoral nomadic tribal groups began entering central and southern Iran during the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The Qashqai, as a large tribal unit, dates back at least to the early eighteenth century, when some Turkish(Turki)-speaking tribal groups in the region existed under the name Qashqai.

Qashqai kilims are best known for their boldness and freedom in the way the pattern is drawn. An aesthetically pleasing geometry, the fineness of their wool and their clear, strong colours combine to ensure their reputation as superlative examples.