Antique Persian Lori Baft Rug With Pomegranate Motifs by Rug & Kilim, 1900-1909

Details

Description

Hand-knotted in wool and originating circa 1900-1909, this 8x11 Lori Baft rug joins Rug & Kilim's Antique collection. It features … Read more Hand-knotted in wool and originating circa 1900-1909, this 8x11 Lori Baft rug joins Rug & Kilim's Antique collection. It features a lattice of pomegranates and birds, celebrated symbols of fertility, abundance, and divine generosity.

On the Design:

Among the most expressive tribal weavings of Lori Baft rugs are admired for their distinctive structure, rich symbolism, and deeply personal artistic language. Woven by Lur tribal groups of Fars and Luristan, these rugs often depart from the formal conventions of urban Persian carpets in favor of bold, highly individual designs. The present example is particularly notable for its rare allover lattice of pomegranates and stylized birds, motifs that have long occupied a cherished place within Persian visual culture. Repeated in orderly horizontal rows, the pomegranates symbolize fertility, prosperity, and abundance, while the birds evoke divine generosity, protection, and the harmonious relationship between nature and humanity.

The rhythmic arrangement transforms these symbols into a compelling decorative pattern that is both folkloric and sophisticated. This is an example of a weft-float brocade or jufti-knotted flatweave-pile hybrid associated with the Lur (Lori) tribal groups of Fars and Luristan provinces. The "Baft" designation distinguishes these from standard Lori pile weavings, they have a characteristic loose, almost shaggy handle and a distinctive structural looseness that gives the design its particular expressiveness. The warm camel-gold field provides a luminous ground for vivid terracotta-red pomegranates and striking sapphire-blue vinery that intertwines throughout the design. Characteristic of Lori Baft weaving, the rug possesses a supple, richly textured handle and a relaxed structural character that lends the design an organic vitality rarely found in more formal workshop productions. The result is a weaving of exceptional personality—one that celebrates tribal craftsmanship while preserving a visual language rooted in centuries of Persian cultural tradition. The accompanying book, Fashioning an Empire: Textiles from Safavid Iran by Nicoletta Fazio and Sumru Belger Krody, is part of Volumes by Rug & Kilim. The book (SKU - B001) can be acquired independently through our bookstore.

Condition:

This antique Lori Baft rug enjoys good condition for its age and origin. See less