Oriental Rugs Dictionary
Chahar Mahal
Chahar Mahal refers to carpets woven in the Chahar Mahal region of southwestern Iran, an area associated with the Bakhtiari tribal confederation.
Rugs from this region often feature the well-known garden panel design, where the field is divided into compartments containing stylized flowers, trees, and decorative motifs.
These carpets reflect the tribal weaving traditions of the Bakhtiari people and are appreciated for their colorful designs and strong construction.
Chahar Mahal describes a region of villages of mixed Persian, Turkish, and Armenian population stretching west and south of Isphahan, whose main center is Shar Kurd.
Many of the Khans of the Baktiari tribes have long maintained permanent residence in these villages and have exercised suzerainty over them. Because of this Baktiari connection, the carpets produced in the villages have been erroneously given a Baktiari tribal attribution.
