Qashqai rugs(sometimes written Ghashghai, Kashgai) are symbols of the authenticity and art of Iranian rug weaving. Due to their features, they have attracted the opinions of many people worldwide. They are characterized by a wide variety of designs and the use of natural colors. If you want to buy a Qashqai rug, it is best to familiarize yourself with its history and specifications.

History of Qashqai hand-woven rugs

Qashqai hand-woven rug weavers have a rich history and culture. Although they have not recorded their history in writing, they have passed this history from generation to generation with stories and songs for nearly 1,000 years.

According to traditions, this tribe is from Turkestan, China. They migrated to Iran under the leadership of Genghis Khan’s army. The Qashqai tribe in Iran chose the cold regions of the Azerbaijani mountains in the Caucasus to live. This tribe entered Fars province at the beginning of the 16th century. Fars province was under the rule of Shah Ismail at that time.

                      The Qashqai tribe is migrating

Fars province has been the home of this tribe for the past 400 years. At that time, 6 out of every 10 women of the Qashqai tribe wove rugs. At the same time, another group of women found mountain plants from nearby villages . They put them in dyeing pots and boiled them to produce the required dye for woolen fibers.

                                               Qashqai girl

The Qashqai tribe is one of the largest nomadic tribes in Iran. They consist of about 200 clans.  The most important clans in which carpet weaving is popular are:

• Kashkuli 
• Shesh-Bloki 
• Safi-Khani
• Chegini 
• Rahim-Lo
• Dare-Shouri 

About one-tenth of Qashqai nomads’ handcrafts belong to the Kashkuli tribe. They are very skilled in weaving all kinds of rugs. The Qashqai tribe, like other tribes, is made up of different tribes, including Turks, Lors, and Arabs. The majority of whom are Turks. Due to a large number of clans, they live in the surrounding provinces such as Khuzestan, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, and Bushehr.

             A beautiful Qashqai girl

What is Persian Qashqai rug?

Qashqai Persian carpet is one of the most popular authentic nomadic carpets. They are very famous in the world. The Qashqai nomads are mostly engaged in animal husbandry and sheep breeding. They spun sheep wool and goat hair and used it for weaving.

Qashqai rugs are always of high quality due to the selection of high-quality wool. These rugs are also known for the natural and vibrant colors used in them. The nomads use dyes extracted from insects and plants to dye their fibers. Natural dyes help the color of the carpet to last and be stable.

                        Qashqai woman

Qashqai antique rug

Antique Qashqai rugs are influenced by 3 regions. These rugs resemble Turkmen rugs with minimalist and stylish patterns common in Central Asia and Afghanistan. They have also learned how to use warm and vibrant colors from the people of the Caucasus and use them in their rugs. Finally, they have developed their rugs in terms of texture and combination with other Iranian motifs in Iran.

Antique Qashqai rugs have geometric and abstract motifs and designs, each of which tells a history or story of these tribes. The tribes weave these designs without using ready-made patterns.
The Qashqai tribes needed durable rugs for their lives. Therefore, these rugs are mostly made of thick wool and cotton. However, the pile of these rugs is usually short. For this reason, Qashqai rugs are very suitable for high-traffic areas.

Please read this article: Introducing the Minimal Interior and Suitable Persian Rug for It!

                             Qashqai red rug 

How to identify the Qashqai rug?

• The first method is to look at the medallion, the medallion of the Qashqai hand-woven rug is usually rhombus-shaped and there is a crab in the middle (with four turned arms).

                  Crab medallion of Qashqai rug

• The second method is that the number of medallions on the rug should be odd, in small carpets there are 1 or 3 medallions, and in larger rugs, there are 5 or 7 medallions respectively. Of course, there are exceptions.

                    Three medallion Qashqai rug

• The third method is the colors used are red, blue, ivory, light green, and yellow, you rarely see dark colors on the rug.

What are the characteristics of a Qashqai rug?

• Hand-spun wool is often used for the pile, warp, and weft of rugs.
• Qashqai rugs compared to Shiraz rugs, are usually of better quality and heavier weight.
• Bright colors such as red, yellow, and green are mostly used in Qashqai rugs.
• Symmetric knots and asymmetric knots are used in the Qashqai rug. Symmetrical knots are more common among Baharlu, Arab and Bolverdi clans.
• These rugs are woven using the two-weft technique, and the wefts are mostly shades of red.
• The density of knots in Persian Qashqai carpet is from 25 to 40 knots per 7cm.
• Qashqai rugs are soft, thin, and delicate but durable and their quality does not decrease with the passage of time.
• Qashqai nomads use horizontal looms to weave rugs due to migration.

                                     pile of Qashqai rug

                                        Back of Qashqai rug

Qashqai rug pattern

Some Persian nomadic Qashqai rugs are woven mentally without a map and based on the imagination, culture, and nature of each tribe. They do not have a special order and are not completely similar. Weavers of Shesh-blocki clans, especially Heibat-Lo, Safi-Khani, Shekarlo, etc, have used these patterns.

                    Qashqai rug pattern 

The Qashqai tribe lived near Persepolis. You can see images of Persepolis columns and soldiers in some Qashqai rugs.

             Persepolis symbols on Qashqai carpet

In the past, Iranian lions were seen in the Fars region. So, the image of a lion is present in some Qashqai rugs. The lion is a symbol of courage and masculinity in Iranian culture.

                     Lion on Qashqai rug

There are other Qashqai rug motifs that are woven with a specific pattern and order. Patterns such as rhombus, square, Nazem, Fish, Bote-Jeghe, and Afshan are from this category.

               Qashqai rug, Nazem design

Buy Online Qashqai rugs

Qashqai hand-woven rugs are made by hardworking and tasteful nomadic people. You bring the goods woven by nomadic women with their hopes and imaginations into your home by buying a Qashqai rug. All stages of picking, spinning, and dyeing of the wools are done by these nomadic women.

These carpets refresh the mood of your life due to their geometric designs and bright colors. The price of a Qashqai rug depends on factors such as size, design, and quality of wool.
In this article, we have tried to introduce you to the history of the Qashqai tribes and their rugs. If you are interested in purchasing a Qashqai rug, you can discuss it with the experts at the Verna Carpets online collection. We will guide you in the direction of a safe purchase.

        Persian Qashqai rug from Shekarlou tribes