Bakhtiari

Generally, the style and culture of the Bakhtiari ethnic group occupying the plains and mountains in western Iran; they are one of the nomad peoples of Iran whose chiefs have been among the greatest tribal leaders in Iran and have long been influential in Persian politics. Specifically, the textiles, particularly rugs, produced under the influence of the Bakhitiari people in certain villages southwest of Esfahan in central Iran. Bakhtiari rugs are symmetrically knotted on a foundation of cotton, with bold coloring and patterns. The field is usually divided into compartments that may be rectangular or produced by an ogival lattice. Occasionally there are tree or medallion decorative schemes. The palette tends to be darker than is found on most Iranian rugs, with much use of yellow.