Shiraz Ghashgai Pictorial

The city of Shiraz, capital of the Fars province in the south west of modern-day Iran, was one of the oldest cities of ancient Persia. Shiraz is world widely known as the city of lush gardens, flowers and wine, with Shirazi wine originating from here. The city is an important centre of Islamic culture and many grand poets and scientists were born here. The small villages and nomad tribes that live around the city also have a great carpet weaving culture and tradition, with both nomadic handknotted carpets and handwoven Kelims being made in the area. The province is also home to the famous Ghashghai tribe with much inspiration and resemblance being found in the two carpet types. Shiraz carpets are almost always geometrical in style and typically feature strong red and brown colour tones. The carpets can also be decorated with stylized flowers and beautiful bird motifs. They are rather large in size and can have either a cotton or woolen warp with a woolen pile. Sometimes goat hair is used in the weft and warp of these carpets.