The Qashqai are a large confederation of tribes and are the second largest Turkic group in Iran are based in the Fars province close to Shiraz and Persepolis in South-West Iran. It has often been suggested that the name “Qashqai” is derived from the Turkic word “qashqa” which means “horse with a white blaze”: a symbol of good fortune to the Qashqai. The Qashqai traditionally are pastoral nomads who migrate with their livestock on a seasonal basis. Although with the change from pastoral nomadism to more settled agriculture and other urban occupations many of the Qashqai have settled into villages and towns.

As with numerous other nomadic tribes, the Qashqai rugs and Qashqai carpets are woven by women. The Qashqai rugs and carpets have a woollen pile, with a woollen warp and weft, and are woven on a horizontal loom pegged out on the floor. The weft thread is usually distinctive in that it is usually a shade of red.

Although the rugs and carpets of the Qashqai are similar in style to those of Shiraz, the Qashqai product is of a much higher quality. The weave is usually fine and more importantly consistent. Typically geometric in style, often with motifs of stylised birds, animals, and flowers surrounding a diamond shaped central lozenge. The traditional colours are terracotta, red, madder, cream and blue.

A scene from Persepolis.

Fine Persian Qashqai Zaronim 1.63x1.13m	Persian Qashqai Carpet 2.55x1.87m
Persian Qashqai Runner 2.90x1.08m	Persian Qashqai Zaronim 1.66x1.01m
Old Persian Qashqai Carpet 2.76x1.61m	Persian Qashqai Carpet 2.58x1.68m
Persian Qashqai Wide-Runner 2.63x1.18m	Old Persian Qashqai Carpet 2.60x1.70m
Persian Qashqai Carpet 2.50x1.66m	Large Persian Qashqai Carpet 3.32x2.26m
Persian Qashqai Carpet 2.37x1.40m	Persian Qashqai Zaronim 1.80x1.22m
Persian Qashqai Zaronim 1.60x1.10m