Kurdish Bidjar Rugs
Guide to The Kurdish Bidjar
Garrus or Kurdish Bijars
When we talk about Garrus Bijars or Kurdish Bijars we are actully using different words for the same thing. Garrusi is a dialect of Kordi (Kurdish) so one who speaks the Garrusi dialect as their “Milk Language” is a Garrus Kurd. The other name for Garrus is Bijari so a Kurd from Bijar is a Garrus Kurd. Keep in mind that the Kurds who weave Bijar rugs speak Bijari (Garrusi) so it is perfectly reasonable that Bijar rugs are woven in the Bijar area rather than the town of Bijar itself.
In the rug trade we use Garrus to describe simpler less sophisticated rugs from the weavers in the Bijar area. This is a distinction between commercial contract work and also from the Bijar type rugs woven by the Afshar (see map) in the Bijar area.
Examples:
Bijar Saddle Cover
Origin: Northwest Persia, Kurdistan, 19th century
Size: approx. 90 x 95 cm.
Notes on Condition: In very good condition with original sides and leather trimming; only minor losses to upper end and partly restored.
Triclinium Bidjar Carpet, c.1900
Origin: North Persia, circa 1900
Size: approximately 19ft. 5in. by 11ft. 7in. (5.92 by 3.53m.)
Description: Wool warp, one original cable end finish, small reweaves at edges, very minor repiling, foldwear.
Bijar Kurdish Bagface, 2nd half 19th century
Origin: Northwest Persia, Kurdistan, 2nd half 19th century
Size: ca. 50 x 58 cm.
Notes on Condition: Knotted on woollen foundation, good colors. Original sides preserved, generally good condition.
Pair of Bijar runners, c.1900-20
Description: Pair of Kurdish Bijar runners, north west Persia, about 1900-20
Size: 12ft.11in. x 3ft.7in. and 12ft.7in. x 3ft.6in.
Condition: Overall wear, heavy in places, some kinking.
Kurd-Bidjar Runner, circa 1890
Measurements: approximately 14ft. 2in. by 3ft. 9in. (4.32m by 1.14m.)
Description: Oxidized charcoals, reweave, one minor partial end.
Bijar ‘Garus’ rug, c.1930
Origin: Northwest Persia, about 1930
Size: 8ft.1in. x 4ft.3in. (2.46m. x 1.30m.)
Kurdish Rug From Village of Qoltuq
Origin: Iran, late 20th century.
Size: 4 foot 1 inch by 2 foot 6 inch.
Structure: Symmetrical knot. 13 knots per horizontal inch and 11 knots per vertical inch. 143 per square inch (2216 per square decimeter).
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: Cotton, white.
Weft: Cotton 2 shots, the sinuous shot is thinner than the rigid the way older Bijar rugs were.
Pile: 2 Wool singles.
Ends: Warp fringe.
Selvages: Overcast with blue wool.
Further Notes: Thick meaty handle, very substantial new rug. This is one of the finer woven Qoltuq. No holes, tears, rips or low spots. Thick pile. Very plush.
This is a village rug from the Kurdish village Qoltuq. These rugs are of a type that are called Qoltuq Bijar or just Bijar in the trade. The wool is thick, strong wool woven very tight, making a strong, durable, attractive carpet that will last for years. It is hard to explain the difference but a rug like this may outlast a tribal rug by two or three times.
They are called Bijar because in handle and style they are similar to Bijar rugs. Qoltuq is Northeast of Cesme Bigar which is the real name of Bijar.
Qoltuq Rug. Iran, late 20th century
Size: 4 foot 9 inch by 2 foot 8 inch.
Structure: Symmetrical knot. 10 knots per horizontal inch and 12 knots per vertical inch. 120 per square inch (1860 per square decimeter).
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: Cotton, white.
Weft: Cotton 3 shots, 2 ply cotton 1st and 3rd rigid, 2nd sinuous.
Pile: 2 Wool singles.
Ends: 1 1/4 inch plain weave on one end, 7/8 inch plain weave with warp fringe other.
Selvages: Overcast with black wool.
Further Notes: Thick meaty handle, very substantial new rug. This is one of the finer woven Qoltuqs. No holes, tears, rips or low spots. Thick pile.
Kurdish Rug From the Village of Qoltuq
Origin: Iran, 20th century.
Size: 4 foot 9 inch by 2 foot 8 inch.
Structure: Symmetrical knot. 10 knots per horizontal inch and 10 knots per vertical inch. 100 per square inch (1550 per square decimeter).
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: Cotton, white.
Weft: Cotton 1st shot 2 singles, 2nd shot 1 single cotton.
Pile: 2 Wool singles.
Ends: 1 1/4 inch plain weave on one end, 3/8 inch plain weave with warp fringe other.
Selvages: Overcast with black wool.
Further Notes: Thick meaty handle, very substantial new rug. No holes, tears, rips or low spots. Very long pile.
Qoltuq Kurdish Rug
Origin: Iran, 20th century.
Size: 4 foot 9 inch by 2 foot 8 inch.
Structure: Symmetrical knot. 10 knots per horizontal inch and 12 knots per vertical inch. 120 per square inch (1860 per square decimeter).
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: Cotton, white.
Weft: Cotton 3 shots, 2 ply cotton 1st and 3rd rigid, 2nd sinuous.
Pile: 2 Wool singles.
Ends: 1 1/4 inch plain weave on one end, 7/8 inch plain weave with warp fringe other.
Selvages: Overcast with black wool.
Further Notes: Thick meaty handle, very substantial. This is one of the finer woven Qoltuqs. Thick pile.
Bidjar-Gerus, c.1900
Unusual Bijar Carpet
Origin: Northwest Persia, Kurdistan, ca. 1900
Size: approx. 221 x 145 cm.
Notes on Condition: Original side finishes, lower end needs restoration; some staining in the left border, however in overall good condition.