Qashqai kilimleri

Guide to Qashqai Rugs

http://www.spongobongo.com/0her9958.htm

Map of the Region

Rahimlu Amaleh Qashqa'i Rug Circa 1920

The Qashqai are one of tribes of migratory herders in Iran. Not really a tribe exactly but rather a tribal confederation of people sharing closely related dialects and ethnic identity. The Qashqai are primarily descended from Turkoman or Azeri/Ersari tribes. They speak a language that is in the Southern Azeri/Ersari language family. Some suggest Qashqai is a separate language but I do not think that can be supported. I am pleased to see that the Ethnologue in the most recent edition changed its classification to agree with me. Social order of the Qashqai Confederation. The base of the group are small voluntary pasture groups of as few as five families. This group is called an Oba, the same word oba is also used for a single family. Obas group into larger groups called tireh which we might translate as sub-tribe. The IL-Khan of the Qashqai Confederation is traditionally a man of the Shahilu family of the Amaleh. The Amaleh is the dominant or elite confederation of the Qashqai Confederation. Historically the Amaleh were a small group of the IL-Khans personal household and retainers.

The Qashqai revolted against the Ayatollah Kohmenni in 1980. The CIA set them up and enticed them to revolt. The Qashqa'i were supposed to be supplied with arms through the Israelis. Then the Iran Iraq war started and after 30 days the CIA pulled the plug on the war and refused anymore arms and aid to the Qashqai. The Qashqai held out for two years against the revolutionary guard but they paid dearly in blood. I wrote more about that in: A tale of two Shiraz Rugs on eBay

Khosrow Khan was hung in Shiraz October 8th 1982 by the Revolutionary Guards. He was the brother of the Qashqa'i IL-Khan Naser Khan Qashqa'i. A friend of mine from Teheran used to tell me stories about Khosrow Khan. Her mother had been in his social set.

Related Examples Amaleh The Amaleh tayefeh (tribe) is roughly 45,000 people in about 54 tirehs (sub-tribes). The Amaleh are the tayefeh of the IL-khan. At one point we might of considered the Amaleh the extended family of the IL-Khan but in the war with the Islamic Republic of Iran only several hundred stayed loyal to Shahilu family leaders, IL-Khan Naser Khan Qashqa'i and his brother Khosrow Khan. The Amaleh pastures are near Firuzabad in the winter and is spent Khosrow Shirin in summer. These are traditionally the best pastures and the Amaleh held them as the elite tayefeh. The Igdir were are a tireh of the Amaleh, The Igdir were one of the 23 original tribes of the Oguz. The main body of the Igdir joined with the Chodor Turkmen. W&W Igdir Amaleh Qashqai Rug Igdir Amaleh Qashqai Rug W&W Rahimlu Amaleh Qashqa'i Rug Circa 1920 Amaleh Qashqai Rug Darrehshuri The Darrehshuri tayefeh takes its name from Darreh Shur or "Salty Valley" near Semiron, Iran. Beck reports 45,000 members in 44 tirehs in the 1960s. Their winter pastures are near Dogonbadan, northwest of Shiraz and their summer are just north of Semiron. Darrehshuri Qashqai Kilem Darrehshuri Qashqai Rug Kashkuli There are two Kashkuli sub tribes of the Qashqai, the Kashkuli Bozork (greater) and the Kashkuli Kuchek (lesser). The Kashkuli Bozork are the best weavers of the Qashqai. Zollanvari, LLC - Tribal Rugs from South Persia Cloudband : Magazine : A New Look at the William Otter Gibbs Collection Kashkuli Qashqai Bag Kashkuli Qashqai Rug Rahimlu Rahimlu Amaleh Qashqai Rug Shekarlu Shekarlu Qashqai Rug Shekarlu Qashqai Rug Fragment Illustration 2. "Shekarlu" (Qashqa'i/Luri), late 19th century, 4'6"x7'9". "Shekarlu" rugs come from a Luri dominated group allied with the Qashqa'i Confederacy. Courtesy of Timothy and Betsy String. Animal Figures in South Persian Rugs Sigmund Freud covered his psychoanalytic couch with a Qashqai Shekarlu rug. Shishboluki Shish Boluki or "Six clans" number 35,000 with twenty large tirehs and 20 small. Their winter pastures are near Farrashband, and their summer pastures are near Eqlid. A “Shesh-Boluki” Qashqâi Bridal Chamber W&W Doqozlu Shishboluki Qashqai Rug Shishboluki Qashqai Carpet Cherpanlu Shishboluki Qashqai Rug Doquzlu Sheshboluki Qashqai Rug Qashqai Large Chanteh Bag Qashqai Carpet Shiraz Qashqai Moj - Flatwoven Cover Qashqai Gabbeh Qashqai chanteh bag W&W Qashqa'i flatwoven mafrash Qashqai Khordjin Panel Qashqai Rug Qashqai Rug Qashqai Rug circa 1880 Qashqai Rug Circa 1900 A Qashqa’i Long Rug Circa 1900 A Qashqa’i Rug last quarter 19th Century Ghashghaie Rug Modern Qashqai Lion Rug The Aaron Nejad Qashqa'i Bag

Qashqai Rug circa 1880

Qashqa'i flatwoven mafrash

Detail of Back -

Asymmetrical knot open to the left.  Qashqai rugs average 70 to 170 knots per square inch according to Stone. Traditional Qashqai rugs have all wool construction including wool wefts and warps. Newer village pieces may have cotton wefts and are generally more coarsely woven.

Qashqai woman spinning, Firuzabad,Fars

Articles and Links: www.Jozan.net Kashgai Rugs Notes on Dr. Lois Beck Beck, Lois. Nomad A Year in the Life of a Qashqai Tribesmen in Iran. 1991, Beck, Lois. The Qashqai of Iran. QASHQAI,Oldcarpet.com,Tribal Rugs of IRAN,Everything About ... Notes on Brian W. MacDonald Animal Figures in South Persian Rugs Breeds of Livestock - Qashqai Sheep W-2375. Qashqai Warp-Patterned Khorjin. South Persia W-2315. Qashqai Canta. South Persia Fars Province Iran Chamber of Commerce excellent Qashqai pictures. Tribal Confederation in Fars Province of Iran. Qashqai is a dialect of Southern Azeri Beck, Lois. The Qashqai of Iran, Beck, Lois. Nomad A Year in the Life of a Qashqai Tribesmen in Iran Opie, James. Tribal Rugs of Southern Persia

Three Generation of Qashqâi

"Three generation of “Qashqâi” inside a tent at “Yeilâq”. Beddings are placed on top of food sacks and storage containers, and new carpets and cushions on top of all. “Qarâvol” plain, near “Abâdeh’, Fârs." Nomads Of Iran

Please note the Qashqai hat on the man in front. For many years owning one of these hats would bring the Revolutionary Guards down on the owner. For this man to wear one in an image from the State broadcasting company shows a real change in policy.

A “Shesh-Boluki” Qashqâi Bridal Chamber

A bridal chamber (Gerdak) set up with gelims. “Shesh-Boluki” clan of “Qashqâi” tribes. “Shirin-cheshmeh”, near “Abâdeh”.

QASHQA'I: a language of Iran SIL code:  QSQ ISO 639-2:  tut   Population 1,500,000 (1997), or 2.38% of the population (1997).  Region Southwestern Iran, Fars Province; southern pasture in winter, northern in summer. Shiraz is a center. Alternate names   QASHQAY, QASHQAI, KASHKAI Classification Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani. Comments Very close to Azerbaijani. Many are bilingual in Farsi. Nomadic. Many can read Farsi well. Desert. Rug weavers, pastoralists: sheep, donkeys, camels. Shi'a Muslim. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=Iran

A Qashqa’i Long Rug Circa 1900

I am not an expert on the Qashqai, just a fellow who enjoys reading and making lists. Much of what I got right about the Qashqai I got from Dr. Lois Beck. I do not footnote every detail since I am going on all of her books, some lectures and some conversations. What you find correct in all this is probably from Beck but all errors are my own. Not to say it is all from Beck, Jim Opie, Brian MacDonald and many others have influenced my thoughts on this subject.

For Further Reading:

Guide to Rugs & Books La Miniature En Orient

JBOC's Notes on the Bible Southwest Asia Time Line

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Thanks and best wishes,

J. Barry O'Connell Jr.