Bakshaish

This article is about a type of rug. For the city, see Bakhshayesh.

Antique circa 1875 Northwest Persian Bakshaish camelhair rug, 10ft 0in x 14ft 0in

Bakshaish rugs and carpets are a tapestry from the village of Bakshaish in north-west Iran. Bakshaish is situated in the mountainous region 30 miles east of the large city of Tabriz. Its rugs are notable for their abstract adaptations of old tribal and classical Persian motifs.

Carpets and rugs

Bakshaish rugs adapt the style and sensibility of smaller tribal carpets from Northern Iran. The designs of Bakshaish rugs and carpets feature abstract geometric patterns and take their inspiration from Persian classical carpets, Often, following form of village pieces, Bakshaish carpets apply scattered graphics filling the woven field. Alternatively, they use empty space to allow graphics to stand out.

Most commonly Bakshaish rugs utilize curvilinear medallion designs, transforming classical cartoons into more abstract drawings, similar to Caucasian tribal rugs. In the late 19th century the designs produced in Bakshaish carpets were akin to those of the Arak weavers.

Sources

• Eiland, Murray L. Oriental Rugs. Boston: New York Graphic Society, 1976. ISBN 978-0-8212-0643-0
• Neff, Ivan C. and Carol V. Maggs. Dictionary of Oriental Rugs. London: AD. Donker LTD, 1977. ISBN 978-0-949937-35-3
• Winitz, Jan. The Guide to Purchasing an Oriental Rug. California: Publishers Group West, 1985. ISBN 978-0930021009