Sirjan Rugs
Sirjan lies in Kerman province in south-eastern Iran, in country long associated with Afshar tribal weaving. The rugs are small to medium, with dense geometric fields and boteh or diamond motifs.
Accent and area sizes make up most of what we carry. Each rug is a genuine vintage piece, decades old and unique.
Sirjan: Afshar tribal weaving from Kerman
Sirjan lies in Kerman province in south eastern Iran, in country long associated with the Afshar, a Turkic tribal people resettled here centuries ago. The rugs combine tribal geometry with the softer palette of the south east, and they are almost always small.
Afshar drawing is distinctive: dense fields of small repeating motifs, diamond medallions with serrated edges, and borders that are often busier than the field they enclose.
What a Sirjan usually looks like
- Drawing: serrated diamond medallions, all over boteh, small stylized flowers packed tightly.
- Color: madder red and indigo grounds with ivory, rose and a characteristic soft blue.
- Construction: wool pile, often on a wool or mixed foundation, with a soft handle.
- Sizes: accent and area sizes in this collection, which is typical for the district.
Where they earn their keep
Small Sirjan pieces work where you want pattern without committing a whole room to it: beside a bed, under a window, in front of a bookcase.
They also layer well over larger plain rugs, and the density of the drawing means they hold their own against strong furniture.
Afshar, Sirjan, Kerman
These three names circle the same rugs and it is worth untangling them. Kerman is the province and also a city famous for fine floral carpets. Sirjan is a town in the province. Afshar is the tribal group whose weaving tradition these rugs belong to. A Sirjan rug is usually Afshar weaving from the Kerman region, and is a different thing entirely from a city Kerman carpet.
Sirjan rug questions, answered
Is a Sirjan the same as a Kerman?
No. City Kerman carpets are finely knotted floral pieces, usually large. Sirjan rugs are tribal, geometric and small.
Why are the borders so busy?
It is characteristic of Afshar weaving. The border often carries as much detail as the field, and in some pieces more.
Are they hard wearing?
Moderately. The wool is soft, so they suit bedrooms and sitting rooms better than entrance halls.
Choosing your Sirjan
Look for the piece whose field you want to keep looking at, since the drawing is dense and rewards attention. Every rug here is vintage and one of a kind.