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Guide to
Qashqai Rugs
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Map of the Region
Rahimlu Amaleh Qashqa'i Rug
Circa 1920
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The Qashqai are one of tribes of migratory
herders in Iran. Not really a tribe exactly but
rather a tribal confederation of people sharing
closely related dialects and ethnic identity. The
Qashqai are primarily descended from Turkoman or
Azeri/Ersari tribes.
They speak a language that is in the Southern
Azeri/Ersari language
family. Some suggest Qashqai is a separate
language but I do not think that can be
supported. I am pleased to see that the
Ethnologue in the most recent edition changed its
classification to agree with me. Social order
of the Qashqai Confederation.
The base of the group are small voluntary
pasture groups of as few as five families. This
group is called an Oba, the same word oba is also
used for a single family. Obas group into larger
groups called tireh which we might translate as
sub-tribe.
The IL-Khan of the Qashqai Confederation is
traditionally a man of the Shahilu family of the
Amaleh. The Amaleh is the dominant or elite
confederation of the Qashqai Confederation.
Historically the Amaleh were a small group of the
IL-Khans personal household and retainers.
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The Qashqai revolted against the
Ayatollah Kohmenni in 1980. The CIA set them up and
enticed them to revolt. The Qashqa'i were supposed to be
supplied with arms through the Israelis. Then the Iran
Iraq war started and after 30 days the CIA pulled the
plug on the war and refused anymore arms and aid to the
Qashqai. The Qashqai held out for two years against the
revolutionary guard but they paid dearly in blood. I
wrote more about that in: A tale of
two Shiraz Rugs on eBay
Khosrow Khan was hung in Shiraz October 8th 1982 by
the Revolutionary Guards. He was the brother of the
Qashqa'i IL-Khan Naser Khan Qashqa'i. A friend of mine
from Teheran used to tell me stories about Khosrow Khan.
Her mother had been in his social set.
Related Examples
- Amaleh
The Amaleh
tayefeh (tribe) is roughly 45,000 people
in about 54 tirehs (sub-tribes). The
Amaleh are the tayefeh of the IL-khan. At
one point we might of considered the
Amaleh the extended family of the IL-Khan
but in the war with the Islamic Republic
of Iran only several hundred stayed loyal
to Shahilu family leaders, IL-Khan Naser
Khan Qashqa'i and his brother Khosrow
Khan.
The Amaleh pastures are near Firuzabad
in the winter and is spent Khosrow Shirin
in summer. These are traditionally the
best pastures and the Amaleh held them as
the elite tayefeh.
The Igdir were are a tireh of the
Amaleh, The Igdir were one of the 23
original tribes of the Oguz. The main
body of the Igdir joined with the Chodor
Turkmen.
- Darrehshuri
The
Darrehshuri tayefeh takes its name from
Darreh Shur or "Salty Valley"
near Semiron, Iran. Beck reports 45,000
members in 44 tirehs in the 1960s. Their
winter pastures are near Dogonbadan,
northwest of Shiraz and their summer are
just north of Semiron.
- Kashkuli
There
are two Kashkuli sub tribes of the Qashqai, the
Kashkuli Bozork (greater) and the
Kashkuli Kuchek (lesser). The Kashkuli
Bozork are the best weavers of the
Qashqai.
- Zollanvari,
LLC - Tribal Rugs from South
Persia
- Cloudband
: Magazine : A New Look at the
William Otter Gibbs Collection
- Rahimlu
- Shekarlu
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Qashqai Rug
circa 1880
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Qashqa'i
flatwoven mafrash
Detail of Back -
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Asymmetrical knot open to the left.
Qashqai rugs average 70 to 170 knots per
square inch according to Stone.
Traditional Qashqai rugs have all wool
construction including wool wefts and warps. Newer village
pieces may have cotton wefts
and are generally more coarsely woven.
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Qashqai
woman spinning, Firuzabad,Fars
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Articles and Links: www.Jozan.net Kashgai Rugs
Notes on
Dr. Lois Beck
Beck,
Lois. Nomad A Year in the Life of a Qashqai
Tribesmen in Iran. 1991,
Beck,
Lois. The Qashqai of Iran.
QASHQAI,Oldcarpet.com,Tribal
Rugs of IRAN,Everything About ...
Notes on Brian W.
MacDonald
Animal
Figures in South Persian Rugs
Breeds
of Livestock - Qashqai Sheep
W-2375.
Qashqai Warp-Patterned Khorjin. South
Persia
W-2315.
Qashqai Canta. South Persia
Fars
Province Iran Chamber of Commerce excellent
Qashqai pictures.
Tribal Confederation in Fars Province of
Iran.
Qashqai is a dialect of Southern
Azeri
Beck,
Lois. The Qashqai of Iran,
Beck,
Lois. Nomad A Year in the Life of a
Qashqai Tribesmen in Iran
Opie,
James. Tribal Rugs of Southern Persia
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Three Generation of
Qashqâi
"Three generation of
“Qashqâi” inside a tent at
“Yeilâq”. Beddings are placed on top of food
sacks and storage containers, and new carpets and
cushions on top of all. “Qarâvol” plain, near
“Abâdeh’, Fârs." Nomads Of
Iran
Please note the Qashqai hat on the man
in front. For many years owning one of these hats would
bring the Revolutionary Guards down on the owner. For
this man to wear one in an image from the State
broadcasting company shows a real change in policy.
A bridal chamber (Gerdak) set up with
gelims. “Shesh-Boluki” clan of
“Qashqâi” tribes. “Shirin-cheshmeh”,
near “Abâdeh”.
QASHQA'I: a language of Iran
| SIL code: |
QSQ |
| ISO 639-2: |
tut |
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| Population |
1,500,000 (1997), or
2.38% of the population (1997). |
| Region |
Southwestern Iran, Fars
Province; southern pasture in winter,
northern in summer. Shiraz is a center. |
| Alternate names |
QASHQAY, QASHQAI,
KASHKAI |
| Classification |
Altaic, Turkic,
Southern, Azerbaijani. |
| Comments |
Very close to
Azerbaijani. Many are bilingual in Farsi.
Nomadic. Many can read Farsi well.
Desert. Rug weavers, pastoralists: sheep,
donkeys, camels. Shi'a Muslim. |
http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=Iran
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A Qashqa’i Long Rug Circa
1900
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I am not an expert on
the Qashqai, just a fellow who enjoys reading and making
lists. Much of what I got right about the Qashqai I got
from Dr. Lois Beck.
I do not footnote every detail since I am going on all of
her books, some lectures and some conversations. What you
find correct in all this is probably from Beck but all
errors are my own. Not to say it is all from Beck, Jim Opie, Brian MacDonald
and many others have influenced my thoughts on this
subject.
For Further Reading:
Thanks and best wishes,
J. Barry O'Connell Jr.
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