Vintage Qashqai sofreh kilim from Iran. 180x107 cms

Minimalist Deep Red Qashqai Sofreh – Persia

This striking Qashqai sofreh from Iran is a beautiful example of minimalist design in tribal weaving. Traditionally used for making bread and preparing food, this flat-woven kilim features a spacious, open field in deep red tones.

The field showcases a wonderful abrash — natural variations in the dye — with the center displaying a richer, more intense red that adds subtle depth and movement. Delicate, intricately woven borders frame the piece, offering a striking contrast to the simplicity of the field.

Elegant in its restraint, this sofreh highlights the refined craftsmanship and artistic sensibility of Qashqai weavers.

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool   

Size: 180×107 cms

Origin: Qashqai tribe, Iran

Date of weaving: 1980s

Sofrehs take their name from the Farsi (Persian) word for cloth and are used for several functions connected with preparing and eating food. Eating cloths are normally referred to simply as sofrehs and vary enormously in size-from small, rectangular mats for personal use to extremelly long, narrow runners for communal eating. They are woven in several standard techniques, including alternating bands of kilim and pile rug, and produced by a number of nomadic and tribal weavers in Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and to a lesser degree, elsewhere.