 Koliai
rugs originate from Koliai, a Kurdish village west of Hamadan in
northwestern Iran, as well as the name of one of the largest of the
nomadic Kurdish tribes. The women of the tribe are superb weavers and
produce bright and cheerful tribal rugs, many of which come in lengths
of 20’ to 40’ making them ideal for use as a stair runner. Originally
woven as dowry items with practical purposes such as floor coverings,
blankets, storage bags, saddle blankets, or as insurance against future
hard times, weaving as a source of income came about much later on. The
knot used on a Koliai rugs and stair runners is an asymmetrical knot
traditional to all Kurdish rugs. Similar to Hamadan city rugs, Koliai
rugs and stair runners are produced with superior quality wool and a
substantially higher knot count.
A large central medallion in hexagonal Herati (repeated field design
which consists of a flower centered in a diamond with curving leaves
located outside the diamond and parallel to each side) diamond design
and beveled spandrels that are made inside the primary border is a
characteristic of Koliai rugs and stair runners. Deep, vibrant colors
from natural dyes give these rugs a warm and inviting appearance. Their
patterns and colors lend themselves ideally for use as a stair runner
where they will be subjected to extreme wear and tear. Dark, busy
patterns on a stair runner will help to camouflage signs of dirt of
wear. The very high quality wool and high knot count on Koliai rugs and
stair runners will give it the ability to stand up well over time.
The foundation on Koliai rugs and stair runners are made of cotton,
while the pile is almost always wool that is spun from the weaver’s own
sheep. As it was in the beginning, Koliai rugs and stair runners still
serve a very practical purpose as well as enhancing your décor with the
qualities that make tribal weaving very special.
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