Semi-antique Qashqai palas kilim from Iran. 208x157 cms

A Semi-Antique Qashqai Palas Kilim in Natural Wool Tones

This semi-antique Qashqai Palas kilim beautifully combines undyed shades of beige, taupe, and brown wool. Working with a limited palette of naturally colored wool, the Qashqai weaver demonstrated remarkable creativity, producing a textile rich in subtle variations and visual movement.

 After the kilim was woven, the weaver embellished it with colorful wool details, adding zigzags, lozenges, and other small motifs that bring vibrancy and personality to the composition.

A characteristic feature of this piece is its construction in two separate panels, which were woven individually and then carefully joined together. This traditional technique reflects the practical limitations of the nomadic loom while adding authenticity and character to the kilim.

Simple yet sophisticated, this Palas kilim is a testament to the ingenuity of Qashqai women, who transformed humble materials into textiles of enduring beauty and artistic expression.

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool

Size: 208×157 cms

Origin: Qashqai tribe, Iran

Date of weaving: 1950s

This kilim is a “palas”, a type of kilim woven to be used as a basis for domestic activities within the nomadic community (drying vegetables, making cheese, etc.). This vintage kilim was hand-woven by a nomadic or village woman, using her own wool spun and carded by hand.

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.