27922-Bidjar Hand-Knotted/Handmade Persian Rug/Carpet Traditional/ Authentic/ Size: 9'3"x 2'5"/282cm x 74cm

BIDJAR

Details

Bidjars are hand-knotted on a vertical loom using a cotton warp or, more rarely, wool. Thin wool threads and thick cotton ones form the weft; usually as many as five threads, four loose wool ones and a taut cotton one in the center. This is the chief characteristic of Bidjars. The warp threads are beaten in with two kinds of tools: the usual comb beater, and a special one, which resembles an enormous iron claw. The craftsmen insert the claw between the warp threads and beat in the weft threads many times over. This special technique makes Bidjars the most compact and heavy of the Persian carpets, giving them the title of “iron rugs of Persia.” The close-cut pile is of high quality, lustrous wool knotted together using a Turkish knot with densities of between 100 to 210 knots per square inch.

Description

Bidjars, like Saroughs, are often decorated with floral motifs in a formal interpretation, which betrays their primitive and semi-nomadic style. The result is a less sophisticated version of the classic Persian specimens such as Kashans, but decidedly more restrained and attractive. There is often a medallion in the center, while the rest of the field is decorated either with floral designs or with the herati motif reproduced in a small size and repeated to cover the whole background (herati motifs are diamond-shaped geometric forms with floral heads both inside and surrounding). Other examples have only a central medallion standing out against a self-colored field. In these Bidjars the four quarters have a floral ornamentation. Bidjar borders are often composed of five bands, four narrow and one central wide one. The main band is often decorated with border boteh (stylized leaf-like floral symbols that often appear similar to a Paisley pattern), while the guards contain a succession of rosettes alternating with more stylized floral motifs. Another common border is made up of two very narrow guards and a central one, which, although wider than the guards, is small in relation to the carpet. In this type of border, a rich floral decoration is often added to the border herati.

Bidjars are identifiable not only by their unusual technique but also by their very beautiful colours. The ground shades are dark: dark blue, cherry red, and bottle green are common, while the colours used for the designs are vivid and often include a delightful turquoise.

Price Range and Value

MEDIUM TO HIGH

Bidjars and Goltogs represent excellent value and are one of the safer investments. Bidjars are proverbially sturdy and beautifully colored and, because production has been limited for more than twenty years, they are very rare.