Sonqor Rug | © Rugman

Origin of Sonqor Rugs

Sonqor is a small village in western Iran in Kermanshah Province. The region sits high on the rugged mountains of Persia and life here can be very harsh. The semi-nomadic tribes men and women who weave these rugs, do so in an attempt to follow a tradition of textile art that has been part of their culture for thousands of years. The rugs made in and around Sonqor all have similarities in design and quality to most other Kurdish rugs.

Iran Maps

Sonqor, Kermanshah, Iran | © Rugman

History of Sonqor Rugs

kurdish carpets are woven throughout western Iran, in and around the rugged mountainous region of Kurdistan. The Kurds derive from the ancient nomadic peoples that roamed the area thousands of years ago. They live a semi-nomadic life, either in villages or in moving tribes away from the cities, where they can still carry out their old traditions and live as they did thousands of years ago.

A few of the Kurdish tribes of the western regions include the Herki, Senjabi, Gurani, Jaffid, and Kalhors. A few major Kurdish rug-producing centers are Senneh, Bidjar, and the district of Khamseh. Some other Kurdish villages and districts that produce rugs are Borchelu, Goltogh, Khoi, Koliai, Lylyan, Mousel, Nanadj, Sonqor, Touserkan, and Zagheh.

As you can see, the Kurds are well established, and historic semi-nomadic and/or nomadic peoples of Iran who date back thousands of years. Many other major rug producing centers of Iran, such as Hamadan, Lorestan, or even Arak show obvious traces of Kurdish influence.

Sometimes they incorporate the style and techniques of the Turkish people of Iran, who are also very widespread. The Kurds are a very peaceful and gentle group who prefer their simple nomadic lives to the complexities and frustrations of the modern technological world.

Sonqor Rug

Sonqor Rug Infobox | © WikiRug

Characteristics of Sonqor Rugs

  • Material and Knots

Kurdish rugs, like all other Persian rugs are all 100% handmade. They are made of pure wool which is spun from the weaver’s own sheep. In very rare cases you might find a carpet that has silk in the pile, and you will often see the foundation of Kurdish rugs being made of goat hair. The pile however, is always wool. The weaving quality in Kurdish rugs varies from loose to dense knotting and the Persian asymmetrical knot is used more than the Turkish symmetrical knot.

  • Color

The colors are bright yet earthy. The main colors include taupe, camel, red, and navy blue. These rugs are very special to their weavers and they always bring a special warmth to their new homes.
The colors are attained mainly from natural vegetable dyes. The color schemes of most Kurdish rugs are bright and vibrant. Unlike most people in the western world who like faded and muted colors, the Kurds love bright lively colors. These exciting rugs bring life to these simple people’s dull homes. All Kurdish rugs are rugged and long lasting as they have proved to be for thousands of years.

  • Design and Pattern

Sonqor rug designs are simple and geometric, yet fun and exciting. The quality in these rugs is fairly good and the sizes are usually around five by eight feet.

Buy an Authentic Sonqor Rug