Qashqai rug inspired by an antique rug from Iran. 306x199 cms

Qashqai rug inspired by an antique rug from Iran

We love a good story, and here’s one we discovered during my last trip to Iran.

This Qashqai rug was inspired by a fragment of a 19th-century rug. The original piece was so admired that a friend of mine commissioned the Qashqai weavers to recreate it in a larger size, preserving the same motifs while introducing a new colour palette. There was one important condition: no compromises on quality.

The finest sheep’s wool was carefully selected — soft, lustrous, and woven with a thick, plush pile. The dyes were equally exceptional, creating a beautiful abrash, or natural variation in colour, especially visible across the open field of blue tones, which almost resemble the movement of the sea. This rug is woven with a very high knot density or knot count. 

This rug is a celebration of the great antique weavings of the past and a tribute to the craftsmanship that made them timeless. In many ways, this is an antique rug of the future.

And you may wonder what became of the original 19th-century fragment. I brought it back to our shop in San Sebastián, and since it could no longer be sold as a complete rug, we transformed it into cushions — which sold immediately.

One of the things we love most about the world of rugs is its inherent sustainability. Rugs are woven to last for generations, often more than a hundred years, and when their original life comes to an end, they can be reborn as cushions, patchworks, or other textiles. And beyond that, wool is a completely biodegradable material. I like to imagine that, a century from now, our rugs may return to the earth as a tree, a medicinal plant, a floweror a bush.

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool

Size: 306×199 cms

Origin: Qashqai tribe, Iran

Date of weaving: New

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 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.