Senneh Kilims

Made by Kurds who live around the town of Senneh in western Iran, the kilims of Senneh are prized for their fine weave, delicate pattern, and coloring. Sanandaj (Senneh), the capital of the Kurdistan Province of Iran, is considered the capital of Kurdish culture.

The designs consist of rhombs, mir-e-buteh, or Herati: a diamond lattice pattern peeping through a tangle of blossoms and leaves or intricate versions of the boteh, a leaf with a curling tip. The borders are full of fine detail, often featuring paired arabesques known in the trade as “turtles.” Red and dark blue colors dominate the rug.