Bakhshayesh (Bakhshaish) Rugs
Bakhshaish (or Baxshayesh), a Persian word,
means clemency, is a village located right in
the middle of Heriz by the Aji Chay (Talxe
Roud) bank. Both Turkish and Persian names
mean Bitter River which alludes to its alkali
quality. Reaching ultimately to Urumia Lake,
it waters miles of Persian Azerbaijan pastures
and its rich minerals (mostly copper) make
Sheep wool coarse and durable; ideal for
clothes and floor coverings on the top of cold
mountains.
Bakhshaish is the most famous name among
northwestern Persian antique rugs. Its world
reputation backs to the second half of 19th
century when Tabrizi merchants developed
their business and lot of woven goods found
their way to Western markets. Nowadays
those antique pieces adorn world museums,
remaining mostly in good conditions due to
durability of their raw materials and firmness
of their structures.
Today Bakhshaish’s weavers retain their old
reputation with their trustable technique and
their still long-lasting raw materials.
Technical aspects and the structure of Bakhshaish rugs
Bakhshaish’s weavers produce the most fine-
woven pieces of Heriz. Actually some
experts give the title ‘Bakhshaish’ to all Heriz
pieces with excellent and dense weave.
Knots are Turkish/symmetrical, pile is
woolen and warp and weft are cotton.
Undyed camel hair is also used.
Carpet sizes are more favored than area rugs.
Runners and Kallegis (wide runners) are also
common.
Dyeing and painting of Bakhshaish rugs
You can’t fail to recognize the red hue of
Heriz goods. Obtained from a kind of madder
native to Azerbaijan Mountains, this red
brings variety of rich and moderated shades
on the palettes. Caucasian blue, like the one
favored by Armenian weavers, adorn some
pieces as well as navy blue and Khaki.
All dyes are natural (herbal and mineral).
Some Bakhshaishs enjoy a special golden
khaki mostly as ground color. This unique
hue is the result of using undyed camel hair
which grant Bakhshaishs radiance and
glamour.
Designs and patterns of the Bakhshaish rugs
Famous antique Bakhshaishs have mostly
Herati patterns in all-over designs. Experts
often mention their similarities with both old Sultan-Abad pieces and Caucasian designs.
Unique tribal-influenced designs could also be found amongst them with animal motives
grazing on hills and between trees, reminding
the very biome of Azerbaijan province. ‘Tree
of Life’ had been also a favored design and
there remained some exquisite examples of
the symbol in museums around the world.
Being separated from Bakhshaish antique
style, new Bakhshaish pieces follow the total
basics of Herizes, namely the central
medallion design in a free rustic style with
fine rectilinear patterns the total shapes of
which are derived from curvilinear designs.
This is a basic description for all Heriz pieces
but every village follows its own tradition.
Bakhshaishs, too, have their own charm,
enjoying the most elaborate compositions
among Herizes. It seems the very elegance of
antique patterns are kept in every single line of new pieces, despite the change from all-
over to central designs.In other words, we can describe new
Bakhshaishs as detailed and intricate Herizes.
