This Persian rug has a silk foundation and a wool pile. It is an above average weave, with 225 knots per square inch.
 
Qashquli rugs are some of the finest tribal weaves available. They are woven in villages and small towns in the Shiraz region in Central Iran. Given their more settled pace of life, the villagers who make these pieces are able to create finer and more detailed rugs than their nomadic cousins. The colours come from traditional vegetable-based dyes made from indigenous Persian plants. These same plants are often represented in the design. Other motifs are “apotropaic” magic symbols (or good-luck charms) like the evil eye, the wolf and the scorpion – all of which are said to provide protection for the flock.
 
This piece is something extra special as it is built on a silk foundation, something that we would normally assosciate with a extra-fine city weave. To see this in a tribal rug is vanishingly rare, making this piece perfect for collectors.