The Bakhtiar cover an extensive area to the west of Isfahan and is situated mostly in the Chahar Mahal district just east of the Zagros Mountains. The Bakhtiar are a powerful tribe with a rich history; indeed, an important member of this tribe was Shahpour Bakhtiar who was Shah Reza Pahlavis Prime Minister shortly before the revolution of 1979. The Bakhtiar were also a prosperous tribe due to oil revenues in the late 19th Century and the early 20th Century before the wells were nationalised.

The majority of the Bakhtiar are now settled into villages in the Chahar Mahal district, and it is in approximately 20 villages close to Shahr Kurd that produces the bulk of the Bakhtiars carpets and rugs. The villages of highest reputation are often sold under their own names: “Shahr Kurd” and “Chaleshotor”.

There are two methods of construction of Bakhtiar carpets and rugs: the single weft and the double weft type. The single weft Bakhtiar is reminiscent of Hamadans in construction; whilst the double weft forms are extremely high quality with a relatively thick pile. Due to the mountainous area from which the sheep graze, the wool employed in the manufacture of Bakhtiar rugs and carpets is of a particularly good durable quality. Since some of the Bakhtiar rug production is still nomadic, some Bakhtiars are woven on a flat loom whilst the settled village production is woven on a more sophisticated vertical loom.

Bakhtiari rug and carpet designs are invariably heavily floral in style with occasional animals (such as peacocks). One of the most common designs is that of the “Persian Garden”. This design consists of usually rectangular panels (though occasionally it maybe diamond-like shapes) containing floral motifs that are separated by channels which represent the irrigation channels of the Persian Garden. The other common style of Bakhtiar rugs and carpets is the medallion design. This usually consists of a powerful central motif and is perhaps more akin to the more formal style of carpet, perhaps influenced by the neighbouring city of Isfahan. The colours employed are usually strong with reds and browns the presiding colours but also with hints of green, blue, and sometimes yellow. In view of the recent trend for soft “washed out” colours, and less patterned rugs - the price of Bakhtiars (which are the opposite in design) has been depressed.