6'8 x 10'2 Persian Bakhtiari Rug | Panel Design

This hand-knotted Persian Bakhtiari rug measures 6'8 x 10'2 and showcases one of the most celebrated formats in Persian weaving: the khane, or panel design. The field is divided into a grid of individual garden compartments, each filled with a distinct botanical composition. Cypress trees, weeping willows with branching canopies, arched prayer niches, tightly packed flowering shrubs, and trailing floral columns fill each panel with characteristic Bakhtiari energy. No two compartments repeat identically, giving the rug an endlessly varied rhythm that rewards close study. The piece is in excellent, never-used condition and reflects the confident, bold knotting tradition of the Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari region of southwestern Iran.

Design and Motifs

The khane panel layout is a design format historically associated with the Bakhtiari weavers, believed to represent the walled garden subdivisions of a Persian paradise garden. Each compartment within this rug carries its own distinct motif. Some panels feature tall formal cypress trees rendered in dark brown and grey against ivory or crimson grounds. Others display weeping willows with sweeping branched canopies in a naturalistic style unique to Bakhtiari work. Additional compartments contain dense fields of rosette flowers, arched architectural niches with cascading interior columns, and repeating rows of small leaf sprays arranged in neat vertical lines. The thin dark lattice lines separating the panels give the composition its structured, quilt-like quality. The wide navy main border carries large palmette rosettes connected by a scrolling vine, while narrow ivory guard borders with small repeating floral motifs frame the field on all sides.

Colors and Placement

The dominant color across the field is a deep, saturated crimson red, which grounds the composition and gives the rug its warmth. Rich navy blue appears throughout in panel backgrounds, the main border ground, and as an accent in the floral motifs, providing strong contrast against the red. Ivory appears prominently in several panel grounds and in the guard borders, offering visual relief and brightening the overall palette. Warm brown and dark espresso tones fill the cypress and willow tree forms, adding an organic earthiness to the design. Soft rose pink and pale blush appear as accents in floral details, arched niches, and border ornaments. At 6'8 x 10'2 this rug is an ideal fit for a medium to large living room, a formal dining room, or layered under a bed in a master bedroom. The red and navy palette pairs naturally with wood furniture, leather seating, and both painted and natural wall finishes.

Origin and Construction

Bakhtiari rugs are produced in the Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province of central-western Iran, woven by both semi-nomadic tribal communities and settled village workshops. This combination of traditions gives Bakhtiari rugs their distinctive dual character: the structured panel format of workshop production alongside the bold, expressive knotting of tribal weaving. The pile is hand-spun wool knotted onto a cotton foundation, a construction that ensures both density and durability. Bakhtiari weavers are historically known for their generous pile height and their use of natural dyes in deep, rich colorways that remain vibrant for generations. The khane panel design is among the most iconic formats in all of Persian rug weaving and is closely associated with Bakhtiari production above all other regional traditions.