The stunning Carpets of Qahqai Nomads.

Qashqai carpet (one of the most fantastic types of Persian carpets), is as colorful and cheery as the culture and the customs of the Qashqai nomads. Qashqais, who are a big nomadic population in Iran, live on the wealds of Fars province and their music and carpets are inspired by the wildlife around. The weavers simply imitate the flowers and the wild or tamed animals on the carpet and express their feelings with the colors they choose. What is more artistic than performing the pure feelings, fears and wishes in form of motifs? Some other Qashqai rugs show noble motifs of Iran, like “Lachak o Toranj”, “Maahi dar ham”, “Chelipa” (cross), peacock, lion and cypress tree, which are all legendary motifs of ancient Persian carpets. These hand-made masterpieces are registered by the UNESCO as a cultural heritage.

A Qashqai woman spinning the wool for weaving a carpet.

Nomads of colors.

Qashqais are Turk nomads, living in Fars province of Iran especially in Firuzabad. Animal husbandry is the main job of Qashqai nomads and they migrate between summer quarters (yeylaq) and winter quarters (qishlaq) to find better pastures for their herd, every year as the seasons change. During the cold season, they set up their tents in southern areas of Fars, like Jahrom, Lar and Firuzabad, while in summer they travel to northern cities of Fars, like Abadeh, Sepidan and Zagros Mountains.

The black handmade tents of Qashqai nomads are made of goat hair and they are propped with timbers and woolen strings. These tents are embellished with stunning pieces of carpets like colorful kilims, small pieces of rugs and Gabbeh. The eye-catching margins and the fine wool, dyed with herbs, like madder and mignonette are the reasons that these stunning and high-quality carpets are inscribed as an intangible world heritage by the UNESCO.

A Qahqai tent on the pasture.