This Persian rug has a cotton foundation and a wool pile. It is a fine weave, with 305 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 particular rug has a finer than usual weave which, along with its large size make it a rare find. Tribal rugs tend to be smaller due to limitation on loom sizes, so a rug like this is especially appealing to collectors. It is a radiant red and gold that can really light up a room.