Rug Ed: What’s a handmade tribal rug?

Rich in history, cultural perspectives & traditions, handmade rugs are some of the most beautiful textiles in the world. Passed down through generations, the skilled techniques of artisans have been shared across cultures. So, a question I get asked often is, “What’s the difference between a tribal & a village rug?” That’s a great question! Read on in this blog post for more information about what makes a rug a tribal rug.

Handmade rug categories.

With so many places of origin, rugs are categorized according to various criteria including place of origin, age, material they’re made from, & even size. The broadest category is by region; Persian, Caucasian, Anatolian, Chinese, and Turkomen. From here, the category is broken down even further into subcategories, one of which is whether a rug is a tribal rug, a village rug, or a city rug.  

Map of Iran including all provinces.

Tribal rugs.

Showing artistic expression & used in daily life, tribal rugs have been made for generations. Pile rugs (knotted), flat weave, & even covers for bags have been made for hundreds of years. Because of their way of life, a variety of bags have been made for uses like carrying babies, sacks of grain on horseback or on donkeys, or even smaller bags to carry the Koran. Most rugs & bags were made for utilitarian purposes, but some were meant for sale or trade. 

Tribal rugs are named after the weaving tribe or the place of origin. The word tribe refers to the name of the tribe & sub-tribe. For instance the broad groups in western Iran, eastern Iraq, & southeastern Turkey call themselves Kurds, but a Kurdish weaver may refer to her tribe specifically by name. This may muddy things up a bit, but not all nomadic tribes travel year-round. Many nomads live in villages for part of the year & many others have chosen to settle permanently in villages. 

Without a drawn out plan, authentic tribal rugs are woven from memory by the tribe’s women. “Zeneh baf” is the Persian language word for “weaving from memory” (for more about “zeneh baf” & the art of weaving a memory from memory, read information from Anamnesis.) These designs & motifs are passed along through the generations. Motifs are inspired by the natural environment but can also be influenced by the village & city rug motifs that they may have come across. 

Antique tribal bag cover repurposed as a small mat rug.

Examples of tribal rugs.

Qashqai 

Pronounced “Gash-ga-ee”, the Qashqai are a confederacy in the Fars Province in southwestern Iran. This tribe are shepherds, so their wool is their own & amazing high quality wool. Qashqai tribal rugs are known for their bold fun colors, medium pile, typically cotton foundation (and in some cases, goat), geometric patterns with a center medallion or all over pattern. Made without a drawn design, these Qashqai rugs are “zehne baf” (by memory & self-expression) & the motifs are passed along generationally. Highly durable and beautiful, Qashqai rugs are a great option for any space. 

Baluch

The Baluch people are spread out throughout eastern Iran, Pakistan, & Afghanistan. Characteristics of these tribal rugs include dramatic colors & designs. Baluch rugs typically have darker reds, browns, & even navy in the field with complimenting colors like neutrals or even hues of orange. Some camel hair is used for lighter colors or for the natural undyed wool color, but generally sheep wool is used for the foundation as well as the knots in Baluch rugs. Motifs are generally geometric & include motifs that are characteristic to the tribe. Typically small in size, Baluch rugs are lower in knot counts per square inch. 

The ends of Baluch rugs end in a flat weave.

Bakhtiar

Considered the “finer” of tribal rugs, Bakhtiar rugs are made by the semi-nomadic tribe of the same name in central Iran. Typically the field is a checkerboard pattern with squares that show Persian gardens, florals, & birds. These motifs don’t represent the landscape where they’re made; this part of Iran actually has a harsh landscape. The motifs show the lush courtyard gardens that were dominant with leaders of the tribe (called “Khans”) of the 1800’s. Known for their high durability with dense knots, the tribe uses its own wool from sheep & organic dyes from local plants & grasses.

Beautiful color palette on an antique Bakhtiar tribal rug.

Nomadic tribe families in northern Iran, c.1993

📸 My own

While still living in Iran, nomadic tribes who migrate seasonally were ubiquitous on our drives away from Tehran into the countryside; still present today, though not as much. There are several reasons for a decline in the nomadic way of life including, but not limited to, political policies & the introduction of modern-day technologies essentially swaying the weavers away from the craft. Presumably then, there’s a decline in the making of newer tribal rugs as the number of women & girls who make them within the tribes are also in decline. Despite a possible decline, many handmade tribal rugs (vintage & antique) still exist in the market today, making them accessible for us to enjoy.