Persian Bakhtiari Rug 10'9" x 13'7"

A magnificent large-format Persian Bakhtiari rug measuring 10'9" x 13'7", this piece commands attention with the bold authority of a true room anchor. Hand-knotted in wool by skilled artisans in west-central Iran, it features the iconic Bakhtiari medallion format: a dramatic central star medallion radiating outward into a densely flowering field, enclosed by an intricate multi-band border with fringed ends. The pile is full and lush, with the kind of weight and texture that speaks to meticulous craftsmanship. This is a rug that does not simply fill a space, it defines it.

Colors

A warm crimson red forms the dominant ground of the central field, giving the rug its characteristic warmth and visual vitality. This red appears most expansively across the main body, radiating heat throughout any room. Against it, a deep navy blue anchors the inner border bands, the connecting arches of the medallion surround, and the shadowed recesses between floral clusters, providing essential contrast and depth. The ivory cream appears prominently in the central star medallion itself, creating a luminous focal point that draws the eye inward, and also surfaces in the corner spandrel motifs and selected border details. A warm salmon-rose pink traces the scalloped outline of the medallion and sub-medallion forms, threading through the field like a glowing ribbon. Smaller quantities of soft dusty gray, olive green, peach, pale gold, and chocolate brown populate the individual floral heads and vine work, providing subtle tonal variety without competing with the dominant triad of red, navy, and cream. The outermost guard borders return to ivory, framing the whole composition cleanly before the wool fringe begins.

Patterns and Motifs

The design is organized around a classic Bakhtiari medallion format. At the center sits a large eight-pointed star medallion with scalloped, lobed edges, rendered in ivory and filled with an intricate arrangement of palmettes, rosettes, and curving vine tendrils. Directly below, a smaller matching sub-medallion echoes the central form, while four corner spandrel pieces in ivory and navy frame the field in a traditional quartered composition. The main field between these anchor elements is a continuous all-over garden of stylized floral heads, open rosettes, peonies, and multi-petaled blossoms scattered across the crimson ground on serpentine stems that weave throughout with organic spontaneity. No two flowers repeat at the same angle, giving the field a sense of living movement. The border system is multi-layered: a narrow inner guard stripe, a wide main border carrying a repeating floral scroll on a red ground, a second guard stripe, and a clean ivory outer edge. The fringe, visible at both ends, is natural undyed wool, a hallmark of authentic hand-knotted construction.

Bakhtiari Rugs

Bakhtiari rugs are woven by the Bakhtiari tribe of west-central Iran, primarily in the Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari province. Produced by both settled village weavers and semi-nomadic tribal artisans, Bakhtiaris are celebrated for their bold garden-inspired designs, vibrant saturated palettes, and exceptional durability. The garden, representing paradise in Persian culture, appears repeatedly as the organizing metaphor for the field composition. Bakhtiaris are typically woven on a cotton foundation with a wool pile and employ a Persian knot, resulting in a dense, resilient fabric that wears extraordinarily well over decades of use. Highly sought after by collectors and interior designers alike, a fine Bakhtiari is widely considered one of the most enduring investments in handmade rugs, a piece that grows more characterful with every year it is lived with.