Antique Nili Qalat Sanjabi Persian Rug
A viewing is a request, not a booking: we write back within 24 hours to confirm a time, in open hours or out of them. No account needed.
ABOUT THIS PIECE
Handwoven skillfully by artisans of the Sanjabi Kurdish nomads in northwestern Iran, this rug showcases a captivating geometric design and a harmonious colour rendition and incorporates indigo-coloured wool, not only enhancing its visual appeal but also ensuring remarkable durability for decades of use.
Nomadic carpets are unique pieces of art, handwoven over many years through improvisation and reference to folk iconography specific to each region and using fine locally sourced, and handspun wool. Nomadic carpets often depict an abstraction of the weaver’s pastoral nomadic life and their place in the universe.
The name’s origin (Sanjab means Squirrel in Farsi) lies in the fact that, during the Qajar era in Iran, the tribe’s warriors wore squirrel skins in their efforts to reclaim Herat (now situated in Afghanistan). Consequently, they earned the moniker “squirrels.” In Iranian literature, one can encounter terms like “Sanjabpoosh” (Squirrel-clad) and similar combinations, denoting luxurious attire or valuable carpets.
The term Qalat or Naghshe Qalat (Wrong Design) stands for seemingly wrong design in Iranian Carpet designs. Nomadic and rural carpets often lack a fixed and uniform design, as the weaver endeavors to shape the design and colour in an abstract and intuitive manner. Essentially, the weaver acquires the fundamentals of the original designs from their region through apprenticeship with a master worker, typically a close relative. However, during the execution of the design, the weaver allows for personal adjustments based on individual taste.
This approach distorts the rug’s design scheme but serves as a unique signature, making each handmade rug a distinctive example of authentic art that appeals to a wide audience. One intriguing aspect of Qalat carpets is that, at times, there is a concealed narrative behind what may initially appear as incorrect designs.
SPECIFICATIONS
How it sits in your room.
290 × 145 CM (9'6" × 4'9"), DRAWN TO SCALE WITH TYPICAL AUSTRALIAN FURNITURE SIZES.
Long enough for a 3-seater sofa but not deep enough to reach under its front legs as well as hold the coffee table, so it sits just in front with the table on it. Floated like this it reads as a deliberate island.
Only 33 cm of rug would show beyond even a four-seat table, so the chairs would sit off it. This one belongs in a living room or bedroom.
Under the lower part of a king bed with 54 cm of rug showing on each side, so your feet land on it either side of the bed.
Measure the room, or just the area the rug should cover, and we will draw this rug in it to scale.
