Persian Qashqai – 10’5” x 7’1”

Qashqai, Afshar, Khamseh, Luri, Gabbeh …

Located in the southwest region of Iran, Shiraz has been a center of Persian culture for a thousand years and more. The frequently visited tombs of the 13^th and 14^th century writers Saadi and Hafez testify to the cultural importance of the city during the classical period of Iranian literature. Shiraz is the capital of Fars province which the Greeks called Persis, the source of the Western term Persia. Near Shiraz, the dramatic ruins of Persepolis are the most famous reminder of the great power of the ancient Persian Empire of Darius and Xerxes.

Many older buildings in Shiraz were restored during a period of prosperity in the 18^th century. The impressive Bazaar-e Vakil (Bazaar of the Regent) built at this time is considered by many to be the finest in Iran. Countless Persian textiles have been sold in this bazaar to be shipped to dealers in Europe and North America. They were often identified in the trade as Shiraz rugs and carpets, but they were more often made in the surrounding regions. They were woven by skilled women following traditional designs of the Qashqai, Afshar, Khamseh, and Luri tribal groups of Fars province and beyond.

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