Kurdish Rugs
Background
Kurdish Rugs are rugs woven by Kurds. This may sound obvious but some internet characters have cooked up a cockamamie theory that seeks to redefine Kurdish rugs to the limits of their inventory/collections. These rascals would have you believe that Kolyai Kurds weave non-Kurdish rugs or that Kurds of the Garusi/Bijari group may not weave traditional Kurdish rugs. I have been involved with a project to determine the proper Kurdish groupings based on language and dialect. I think the advocates of this strange way of looking at Kurdish rugs need to understand that what they call Kurdish takes in a wide range of people in four separate but related language group (Central Kurdish, Northern Kurdish, Laki, Southern Kurdish). To ignore the mass of data on the Kurdish people while one seeks to define the rugs on the basis of ones taste or inventory/collection seems, to this writer, arbitrary, capricious, and disingenuous.
Examples:
Kurdish Gallery Carpet
MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 14ft. 5in. by 6ft. 11in. (4.39 by 2.11m.)
DESCRIPTION
Circa 1820 reduced in length, lower end border rewoven, reweaves, repiling, oxidized charcoals, overcast sides.
Mid 19th c. Kurdish Carpet
Origin: North West Persia, Kurdistan, mid 19th c.
Size: ca. 256 x 141cm
Notes
Original red kilim preserved at upper end, sides need restoration, pile evenly low.
Kurdish Village Rug c. 1920
Origin: Northwest Persia, around 1920
Size: ca. 225 x 125 cm
Notes on Condition
Sides cut, corroded brown.
Kurdish Rug circa 1850
MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 6ft. 4in. by 3ft. 8in. (1.93 by 1.12m.)
DESCRIPTION
Circa 1850 remnants of original end finishes, foldwear, repaired holes.
Kurdish Rug
Saujbulagh area, Northwest Persia, early 19th century 1.98 x 1.47m (6ft 6in x 4ft 10in)
Kurdish Rug circa 1800
MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 8ft. 9in. by 4ft. 11in. (2.67 by 1.50m.)
DESCRIPTION
Circa 1800 partially oxidized charcoals, partially repiled browns and charcoals, scattered repiling, reselvaged, minor partial ends.
Kurdish Rug Sivas Region 1850-1875
Size 3’11” x 7’7″
Date 1850-1875
Description The field is compartmentalized with each section featuring a traditional stepped medallion. This primary construct is quite traditional in Yoruk carpets but the weave in this rug is exceptionally fine with a pleasing symmetry of composition that avoids the clutter or predictability of later examples. The dyes have developed a mellow patina with age.
Condition: Very good. There are isolated areas of good quality repairs. The pile is full with no areas of wear. There are no wear creases, holes or areas of moth damage.
Structure Warps: Wool, undyed shades of brown 2 strands, tightly plied, Z-spun, S-plied.
Wefts: Wool, mostly dark undyed brown 2-3 shoots
Knots: Symmetrical, one level
Sides: 2 cords consisting of multiple warps overcast in figure 8-pattern
Ends: Reduced slightly
Kurdish Rug Fragment Kagizman Region 1780 – 1800
Date 1780 – 1800
Description This rare, old fragment offers a profusion of East Anatolian-Kurdish design elements. Eight pointed stars, “s” morifs, multi-colored, sectioned triangles, beetle-like figures are among the most prominent. The border motifs harken back to early Islamic textiles. The central field device, a variant of the re-entry or key-hole design, displays hexagons on a rich indigo ground. All the colors are strong and clear. A deep aubergine is utilized more extensively than commonly witnessed. Madder red, a golden rod yellow, a mid-range blue and a chocolate brown are all outstanding.
Condition: Fragment. Existing pile is quite full.
Structure Warps: Wool, undyed, light brown. Some warps have light and dark undyed brown plied together. 2 strands. Z-spun. S-plied.
Wefts: Wool, most are dark blue. Some are undyed light brown 2 shoots where extant.
Knots: Symmetrical.
Kurd Rug Azarbayjan-e-Gharbi Province early 20th C
Kurd Rug, Northwest Persia, early 20th century, (small crease), 7 ft. 9 in. x 4 ft. 5 in.
Kurd Rug Turkey late 19th/early 20th C
Kurd Rug, Anatolia, late 19th/early 20th century, (some moth damage, crude repairs, small hole, fringes added), 4 ft. 8 in. x 3 ft. 4 in.
Kurd Rug East Turkey circa 1800
Size: 184cm(H) x 111cm(W) / 6’0(H) x 3’8″(W)
Region: West Asia, Turkey, East Anatolia, Kurd
Item Type: Rugs and Carpets
Period / Date: 19th century, second quarter (1825 – 1849)
Main Color: Brown
Other Colors: violet-blue-turquoise-white-black-camel-green-red
Materials: all wool
Condition: Poor
Comments On Condition: some damages but no repils or repairs.
Antique Kurdish Malatya Yatak Circa 1875
Size: 172.7cm(H) x 147.3cm(W) / 5’8″(H) x 4’10″(W)
Region: West Asia, Turkey, Central Anatolia, Malatya
Item Type: Rugs and Carpets
Period / Date: 1875
Condition: Excellent
Comments On Condition
The long-staple lustrous wool pile is virtually original, with some very small reweaves. Original kilim warp finishes and bi-colored selveges.
Full Description
Woven in the Yuruk triangle, near Malatya, this full-pile rug is rather finely woven, a fact that makes it very dense and heavy, with a pelt-like handle; hence its ideal suitability as a traditional tribal bedcover (yatak).
