Persian Qoltuq Rug | 4' 3" x 6' 8"

Qoltuq is a village near Khodabandeh, in the Ijrud area of central Zanjan, on the Dandi road towards Bijar. Its proximity to Bijar, and the similarities between the rugs of the two areas, mean that Qoltuq rugs are sometimes sold as Bijar. Rug specialists can readily distinguish them, however, by their different weaving and knotting techniques.

The finest and most valuable weavings from this area are surviving works of the Afshar tribe, whose work has given Qoltuq rugs an international reputation. Older Qoltuq rugs have particularly pleasing, eye-catching palettes, including light blue, pale orange, beige, brown and black, among other colours.

This Qoltuq rug features the Khonchali, or ‘khoncha-bearing’, design, referring to a ceremonial tray. Locally, it is mistakenly called the ‘samovar’ design.

In the second volume of his book Azerbaijani Carpet, the distinguished late scholar Latif Karimov classified this design within the Quba group as Gymyl, named after a village eighteen kilometres from Quba. Drawing on local usage, he identified it as Khonchali, or ‘khoncha-bearing’, or Nishan Nimchasi, meaning ‘betrothal plate’. These names are rooted in local customs involving the use of rugs for special tribal and national occasions and ceremonies.

Some European and American scholars of Caucasian rugs also call this design Kabala or Gabala, relating the name to qabala, a deed or document, and believe that the design originated in Dagestan.

Within Iran’s rug-weaving traditions, this design has appeared in various compositions in areas including Tabriz, Ardabil, Kurdistan, Zanjan, Hamadan and Malayer.

The patterns and motifs of rugs can be the written language of people from the past. To record what they saw—their natural surroundings, culture, habits and traditions—they set knots upon the warp and weft. One knot rests beside another, and row by row, their heritage and culture are made enduring.

In this rug’s central medallion, we see a symbol of an eight-sided world enclosing an eight-pointed star that represents the centre of creation.

The medallion’s pendant represents the gateway to paradise in ancient Turkic beliefs. The corner spandrels on either side contain stylized dragon motifs that serve as guardians of this gateway.

Designs rooted in nomadic heritage are often rich in mythical and legendary symbols that can be read as a historical text. Seen in this light, this rug can itself be considered a historical text.

Judging by its palette and the forms of its motifs, this rug is approximately 60 years old.

• Origin: Qoltuq, Persia
  
• Materials: Hand-knotted hand-spun wool pile on cotton foundation, vegetable-dyed
  
• Age: Second half of the 20th century
  
• Size: 4' 3" x 6' 8" (130 x 202 cm)