Hand-knotted Songhor (Sonqor) Rug, 9’12″x6’11”, Code:1207

The small village of Songhor in western Iran is located in the heart of Kurdistan and is known for its traditional textile art that has been passed down for thousands of years. The semi-nomadic tribespeople who weave these rugs face harsh living conditions in the rugged mountains of Persia. The rugs produced in and around Songhor have similarities in design and quality to other Kurdish rugs and are known for their bright yet earthy colors and simple, geometric designs. These rugs are made with a wool or cotton foundation and have a medium to the long wool pile, and are always made using the Turkish (symmetric) knot. The Azeri weavers in the village typically make traditional village rugs with a medallion or allover design, and the field and border motifs are usually geometric. Another type of rug made in Songhor is the Kurdish-made Kolyai, which features geometric and tribal designs. Both types of Songhor rugs are generally considered to be of good to very good quality and were commonly found in the antique market from the late 19th century. By the last quarter of the 20th century, weavers in the village began to switch to designs that met the demands of domestic and foreign export consumers.