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The Ghashghai nomads are found in the Fars province in the southwest of Iran. They move twice a year, between the winter pasture near the Persian Gulf and the summer pasture up in the Zagros mountains where it is much cooler. During the moving it is possible to see the men with their typical round hats, running together with their dogs along the large flock of sheep and herds of goats, along the roads swirling clouds of dust. The women in their colourful clothes transport themselves with the help of donkeys and horses towards new camp grounds. The manufacturing of carpets as well as kelims, bags, ribbons and other decorations is an important contribution to the life of the nomads. The carpets have a typical red-brown ground colour. The pattern is tied from memory and often consists of a centrally placed medallion, repeated in all four corners. Humans, four legged animals, birds, trees and flowers are popular elements. Other patterns are collected from frescos and columns in Persepolis (Tacht-e-Jamshid in Persia) the ceremonial capital during the Achmenids dynasty (550-330 B.C.). The carpets are woven on horizontal looms and the weaver sits during the work, on the half made part of the carpet. Semi nomads, who are resident during parts of the year, weave carpets in the same way. A specially well-woven carpet is called Kashkooli.Gabbeh signifies a rough and primitive nomad carpet from the area. During the last decades, the weaver had to oblige the western desires and began to use large brighter fields with few patterns in the Gabbeh carpets. Well-done Ghashghai carpets are attractive and durable products that tells a lot about the conditions of the nomadic life. The carpet is made entirely of wool from sheep and goats with some horse hair. The carpets can also be called Qashqai-, Gashghai, Gaschgai- and Kashgai carpets. More simple carpets from the area are sold under the name Shiraz. It is also the name of the province capital and in these bazaars the Ghashghai carpets are sold. The bazaars is also a common place where the nomads make a lot of their purchases for their everyday life. Some examples of Ghashghai carpets:
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Technical specifications: Pile: wool yarn Weft: wool or goathair yarn, usually 2 wefts after each row of knots Warp: wool or goathair yarn Knot: symmetrical Knot density: 80 000 - 300 000 knots per square metre
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