Bibibaff Bakhtiari Rugs and Carpets

Bibibaff Bakhtiari Rugs and Carpets

Tribal Antique Oversized Persian Bakhtirari Rug

Tribal Antique Oversized Persian Bakhtirari Rug 48042 Nazmiyal Collection

 Bibibaff Bakhtiari rugs are very special and hard to find. But what are the and why were they made. The old dealer story is that Bibi means Grandmother and Baff means knot so a BibiBaf is a rug made by the old grandmothers and they were the best weavers. Like most dealer stories it is slivers of truth mixed with huge helping of whatever came to mind at the moment. The real story is far more interesting; Bibibaff rugs take their name from Bibi Mah Bagum

The Rug of Bibi Mah Bagum


A wonderful book The Last of the Khans: The Life of Morteza Quli Khan by Ali Morteza Samsam Bakhtiari gives us a look into the highest levels of Bakhtiari weaving. 


 

Morteza Quli Khan was one of the greatest Bakhtiari Khans and a man of great wealth. He was so rich that when a terrible famine hit Persia and drove the price of bread above what the poor could afford he shows mercy. Instead of selling his stores of grain for the highest price he offered 3 loaves a day for free to all who would ask. Starving Persians came  from all over Iran including all the way from Azerbaijan to eat his bread.

Bibi Mah Bagum the wife of Morteza Quli Khan was in charge of a palatial home with a household staff of 300. One problem for her was capets for her living room. Her solution was to assemble her own workshop and she had them make two carpets 23 * 36 feet. She hired the Ousta (Ustad) Mohammad a Kermani weaving master who worked for her at Shalamzar.

Under Ousta Mohammad there were four women weavers. To gather the dyes were two men with a mule. There was also metion of a Dye Master but not sure if that is one of the two men.

The dyes that they used were:
Gandal Alaf yellow
Roundrass for reds
Nil for the Blue & green
Walnut husks for brown
Larkspur Bright yellow first  bath
Madder for red
Buckthorn bright yellow
The ugs of Bibi Mah Bagum

Inscribed Bibibaff Bakhtiari Rug

 Detail of an Inscribed Bibibaff Bakhtiari Rug



http://academyoforientalrugs.blogspot.com/2016/11/inscribed-bakhtiari-carpet.html

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 31, 2018 at 5:57 AM

    I really wonder where we could find the bibibaff rugs these days? They are so rare that it is nearly impossible to find a genuine bibibaff rug on the internet.

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