Bidjar Rug

This type of rug is called a Bidjar, referring to the name of a small Kurdish town in western Iran. The majority of Bidjar rugs traded today exist because of their outstanding durability. The tight weaving of these carpets makes them quite dense, and they weigh more than almost any other rug of comparable size. They are thus known as the “Iron Rugs” of Iran. These rugs are also noted for their lustrous, high-quality wool and superb dyes. This carpet depicts many different cabbage roses, called gul fereng, meaning “foreigner’s rose,” and this pattern was typically produced for western export. The background field is comprised of striated browns, most likely produced by walnut husks. The rug contains at least twelve different colors.