How do I identify a Qashqai rug?

Qashqai carpets originate from the Fars province of south-west Persia and typically feature diamond medallions, animal figures, and rich madder-red grounds. Their designs often incorporate stylized representations of local architecture or traditional tribal iconography. Look for fine wool foundations, characteristic dark blue and red palettes, and distinct geometric border arrangements that set them apart from Kurdish or Afshar tribal work.

A bag face is the decorative front portion of a utilitarian storage sack woven by nomadic groups for domestic use inside tents or yurts. These panels were removed from their original plain-weave wool backs when worn. Collectors prize them as compact examples of tribal weaving that showcase the maker's skill in miniature format, often featuring dense medallions and complete borders.

How should I clean a nomad rug?

Natural wool and vegetable-dyed carpets require gentle maintenance, starting with regular light vacuuming without a rotating power brush. Professional specialist cleaning remains essential for deep restoration and soil removal. Avoid chemical detergents and excessive water immersion, which can damage hand-spun wool foundations and cause fugitive natural dyes to bleed across the ivory or coloured grounds.

What are natural dyes?

Natural dyes are colourants derived from plant, insect, and mineral sources used by nomadic weavers before the introduction of synthetic aniline dyes in the late nineteenth century. Common sources include madder root for reds and indigo for blues. These colourants age gracefully over decades, developing subtle tonal variations known asabrash that give antique tribal carpets their characteristic depth and warmth.