The Bahtiari

The Bahtiari tribe constitutes the largest tribal group in Iran; a third of them being nomadic. The sedentarized Bahtiaris live in villages within Chahar Mahal and Bahtiari Province near Isfahan where they produce some of the best-known carpets in the style and designs which are popular,easily recognizable and collectible.

The Bahtiari’s roots however are further south, in the Zagros mountains and in fact some of the  finest Bahtiari rugs, predominantly antique ones, originate from the south west Iran.  If you are an aspiring collector, be on the look-out for Bahtiari rugs with wool foundation. It is wool foundation that distinguishes antique tribal Bahtiari rugs from more commercial Chahar Mahal ones; invariably set on the cotton warps and wefts.

The life-style of the Bahtiari nomads is somewhat similar to that of other south-western tribes and evolves around seasonal migration (called bâr).

In the spring, the Bahtiari clans abandon the plateaus of the mainland and move to the hillsides of the Zagros seeking better climate and vegetation.

Bârs are extremely arduous. ‘The nomads suffer frequent accidents and losses of livestock when they clamber over snow-covered cols, ancient  Bahtiari  mountain routes, and through rock-encumbered gorges and when they either swim or float on rafts held up with inflated goatskins across the Kārūn and other raging rivers at the time of the snow-melt.’ [1]

The works of the sedentarized Bahtiaris frequently show a strong urban influence. While many of their rugs retain their tribal character, they often resemble the more sophisticated atelier works including those with curvilinear motifs within the medallion and niche/corners designs.

A.G

Interested in more articles on the Bahtiari nomads? Read the article below:
Why Iran’s Nomads are Fading Away (National Geographic) or … click here