Vintage Bakhtiari Persian Tacheh

This beautiful Semi Antique Tacheh has been Handwoven by Bakhtiari villagers in western Iran.

Bakhtiari Tacheh is one of the most distinctive weaves of Persia. Originally woven as carrier bags for horses and mules as such made extremely tough and durable with unique personal and improvised designs.

Tacheh possesses an aesthetic value that was not discovered until a few decades ago, but after it was known, a wave of interest in these weaves was established among enthusiasts and collectors.

First, these weaves incorporate many different weaving techniques (Carpet, Kilim, Soumak) into one piece, which is unique in its own way. In fact, you have a pile portion made out of wool on a firm Kilim or sumac and in addition, it may have different forms of end-wrapping based on the type of the Tacheh.

Second, the design of Tacheh is a unique fusion of the personal and experimental with aged old folklore and traditions. Unlike other nomadic/rural woven containers, whose piled portion acts as a protection against abrasion, it has no practical function in Tachehs and is mostly for show and beauty. But it has a symbolic spiritual function. The torso shape of the piled portion is similar to the design of the mihrab rugs, which is taken from the design of the mosque’s mihrab. Its presence in Tahches is akin to seal of sanctity. It signifies that the containers hold wheat, barley, or the flour made from them, and must be handled with care so that the grains do not spill underfoot where they might be subject of disrespect. The shape acts as the presence of God and his bounties.

The motifs of Tachehs have a lot of variety and are diverse based on where they are woven, but most of the time experimental. Some of them use designs we have seen in Bakhtiari Gabbeh with their personal and Improvised design and some others use Golfarang motifs which are inspired by Bakhtiari piled rugs and ceiling paintings in Chahar Mahal, Isfahan and Fars.