Kurdish rugs

Kurdish couple displaying typical colorful handmade carpet

Kurdish rugs (Kurdish: قالی کوردی) are rugs woven by the Kurdish people in Middle East, predominantley the larger Kurdistan region including the Eastern part of Turkey near the Tauros Mountains, Iraq, southernmost Caucasus, Soviet Armenia and North-Western Iran.1 When reffering to Kurdish rugs within the rug industry, one is reffering to those made within Iranian Kurdistan. 2 Also woven by the Kurdish population are Bijar and Senneh rugs, though they do not fall under the classification of 'Kurdish.'3 Until recently Kurdish rugs had long been mistaken for Yuruk Turkish and Northwestern Persian; however, their distinctive design and color sensibility have now distinguished Kurdish rugs as a type unto themselves.4

Structure

Kurdish Rugs are stout and solid in structure, usually made in symmetrical knotting upon a woolen foundation.

Design

Kurdish rugs an carpets do use medallion patterns; however, far more popular are the all-over floral, Mina Khani motifs and the "jaff" geometric patterns.5 The beauty of Kurdish designs are enriched by high-chroma blues, greens, saffrons as well as terracotta and burnt orange hues made richer still by the lusturous wool used.6

The traditional Kurdish Rugs uses Kurdish symbols. It is possible to read the dreams, wishes and hopes of the Kurdish rug maker from the sequence of symbols they use. It is this signification and communication both individually and grouped into Kurdish rug making. Kurdish people study how meaning is constructed and understood by talking with the rug maker.

See also

• Yürük rug
• Persian rug

References

• The Emergence of a Kurdish Rug Type
• Encyclopædia Britannica
• 4,5,6 Nazmiyal, Jason."Misunderstood Kurdish Village Rugs." November 2007.The Nazmiyal Collection.[1].
• 1,2,3 Neff, Ivan C. and Carol V. Maggs. Dictionary of Oriental Rugs. London: AD. Donker LTD, 1977. ISBN: 13: 9780949937353