Koliai rugs

Koliai rugs, produced by the women of a Kurdish nomadic tribe in northwestern Iran, are commonly available in very long lengths of 20’ to 40’.
Koliai is 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 rug and stair runner is an asymmetrical knot traditional to all Kurdish rugs. Similar to Hamadan city rugs, the Koliai rug and stair runner 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 the Koliai rug and stair runner. 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 a Koliai rug and stair runner will give it the ability to stand up well over time.
The foundation on a Koliai rug and stair runner is 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, the Koliai rug and stair runner still serves a very practical purpose as well as enhancing your décor with the qualities that make tribal weaving very special.