Although the small Kurdish town of Bijar in the province
of Kermanshah has hardly ten thousand inhabitants, the high quality of its
carpets has gained it an international reputation. Concern for this
reputation for high quality, had led to the clear distinction between the
products of the Bijar town workshops and the Tekab-Bijar, which are woven
by an Afshari tribe who are settled in the area. The characteristic weft
technique used in the Bijar area has led to the term Bijar-structure to
describe the use of a single weft shoot, thick and tautly stretched after
every row of knots. The strong tension of the weft pulls the warps into
two layers, giving the carpet rigidity, although if handled carelessly or
folded, it will crack and tear. Carpets with a Bijar structure must
therefore be rolled for transport.
Sizes:
All sizes, especially from about 1 x 1.50 m upwards. Large
pieces of over 12 sq.m are common.
Color:
Ground colors are harmonious, a product of the blending of
subtle pattern shades. Dark blue and a strong red predominate. Brown and
yellow are also used but green is rare. Some old Bijars are woven with
combinations of light and dark blue.
Patterns:
Medallion designs are common, as are Boteh, Herati, and
minakhani designs in endless repeats often with multiple borders or guard
stripes.
Foundation:
Warps are of cotton or, less frequently, goat's wool. Weft
are cotton and both warp and weft yarns are tightly spun. In old and
antique pieces warps and wefts are of wool.
Knots:
The weave is in the Turkish knot, medium fine to fine,
with knot counts of 1,500-2,500 knots per sq. dm. Persian knotted pieces
are also found in otherwise similar structures.
Pile:
A very dense hard pile, cut medium to high, although old
and antique finely woven pieces tend to be clipped lower.
Quality:
Bijar carpets are counted among the best Oriental carpets
for everyday use with an extremely tough and rigid handle. Modern Bijar
workshop carpets are still of excellent design and construction.
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