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 13th and 14th 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 18th 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.
The weavings of the Qashqai nomads are the easiest to recognize from their bright colors and bold geometrical designs. Qashqai saddle bags and kelims (flat weaves) may be very finely woven. Afshar textiles have more restrained colours and relatively formal designs. Khamseh rugs are generally darker in coloring with simpler patterns. Luri rugs have large repeating designs with red and black as primary colors. Thick Gabbeh rugs popular in recent decades have very simplified designs.
In all their variety, Shiraz textiles find a welcome place in traditional and modern decoration. They bring color and warmth to a conversation area, a family room or a home office. Kelims or saddle bags used as wall hangings add the timelessness of folk art. Resilient Gabbehs are used in children’s rooms for their indestructibility and their sound absorbing qualities
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