Tribal & Village

A “Village Rug” is distinct from a “Nomadic or Country Rug” and yet again from a “City Rug”. An increasing degree of fineness is implied from nomadic to village to city. Village rugs respond to the current market needs to a limited degree; they do not use a cartoon (diagram) to guide the development of the pattern.

Belouch (also Beluch, Belutch, Belutsch, Balouch, Baloutche, Balúchi) are hand-knotted by different nomadic tribes that wander between Persia and western Afghanistan. (Belouch is a generic term for nomads in that area.) Belouch carpets are closely related to carpets from Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Their colours tend to be dark red, dark blue, black and brown; their patterns geometrical with curvilinear life-trees. They are often designed as prayer carpets with a prayer niche. The workmanship is of high quality; these carpets are tight woven, thin and are fine examples of genuine nomadic handicraft. Mashad or Meshed Belouch carpets are sold in the city of Mashad in Iran, while Herat Belouch carpets are sold in the city of Herat in Afghanistan.

Kashgai (also: Qashqai) are made by the descendants of a confederacy of tribes living in south-western Iran known for high quality tribal rugs. These sought after rugs have a wool foundation dyed in red, piled with asymmetrical knots and having knot counts of around 70 to 170 knots per square inch. The most popular design includes a hexagon medallion with four hooks surrounded by hundreds of small geometric and animal motifs throughout the field. Frequently, rugs will have a colourful barber pole used as a selvage.