Around the city of Kerman in the southeast of Iran reside the semi nomads from the Afshar tribe. For hundreds of years these nomads lived in the northwest of Iran, but a part of the tribe were compulsorily transferred to today’s area, where carpet manufacturing became an important branch of business.

The carpets have red and blue colour tones and mostly geometrical patterns. The most common pattern contains a large center piece with one or more squared medallions, some say that this symbolizes a hide stretched for preparation.

Today, medallions also occur and are typical of the Afshar carpets as they are also relatively wide in relation to its length. In the nearby city of Shahr Babak similar carpets are manufactured, with a higher density and with more detailed patterns. Afshar carpets are also known on the market under the name of Sirdjan.

Technical specifications:
Pile: wool
Weft: cotton yarn, 1 or 2 wefts
Warp: cotton yarn
Knot: mostly symmetrical, but also asymmetrical knots can occur

Knot density: 120 000 – 250 000 knots per square metre

Sizes: from zaronim (150×100 cm) up to 300×200 cm