Description

This Kurdish Kelleh dates to no later than the middle of the 19th century. It was made by a Kurdish village weaver in northwestern Iran. Such carpets were often made and used as pairs to run down the centre of a village house reception room.

The Kelleh depicts rows of five flowering shrubs, each one placed in the gap between the shrubs in the adjoining rows, thus forming what could be described as an open lattice The repeating shrubs are held in three shades of blue, two shades of red, pink, two shades of green, aubergine, white and dark brown, the latter used for the stems and the large leaves at the bottom of the shrubs predominantly in pink and light blue. The arrangement of the shrubs is very regular: two rows of pink/ light blue shrubs alternate with one row of blue/red shrubs. This regularity in the repeating pattern on a mustard yellow ground ensures a calm over all effect of the design, despite the elaborate, almost naturalistic execution of the shrubs.

Three borders of equal weight and identical design surround the field; they are in the same colour scheme as the field, with the addition of two shades of orange and a darker aubergine. The borders are separated by straight guard stripes, again adding an element of simplicity.

The quality of the wool and dyes is outstanding.

The rug is woven in wool on a wool foundation, with a light brown double weft. The top end is finished with original brocading and a woven web.

This is a genuine weaving both for the collector and as a decorative addition to an interior.

£2,500