Khorjin Face. Bathiyari. Persia. Late 19th Century. 78 X 70 Cm

You have to take the time to look at this piece.

At first glance, it’s the richness of the design that makes an impression: the decoration seems to fill every available space, and yet, upon closer inspection, a true architectural structure emerges—a meticulous organization.

At the center, a powerful, almost sculptural medallion featuring stars and hooks organizes the entire composition. Around it unfolds a profusion of geometric flowers, rosettes, diamonds, hooks, and stylized plant forms, arranged with the freedom characteristic of tribal art.

The border alone is worth a closer look. Against an ivory background, a succession of angular, polychrome shapes creates an almost continuous flow around the central field. More than just a frame, it functions as a true graphic frieze and lends considerable impact to this small bag panel.

And then there are the colors. An extremely deep indigo blue, almost midnight blue, forms the bulk of the field. It is illuminated by madder red, brick red, and garnet, shades of terracotta and dusty pink, a few touches of petrol blue and brown, and above all that natural ivory that literally outlines the motifs. A rich, deep palette, wonderfully weathered by time.

Woven wool-on-wool, this antique Bakhtiari khorjin front concentrates an astonishing profusion of patterns and colors within a relatively small area. A small piece in terms of size, but certainly not in terms of presence.
Persia – Bakhtiari
Late 19th century
Knotted weave – wool-on-wool
Plant-based dyes
Dimensions: 78 x 70 cm

Laurent
Beauty of Kilims