Senneh rugs: fine Kurdish knotting of Sanandaj

Location

Senneh is the old name for Sanandaj, capital of Kurdistan province in western Iran.

Designs

Small all-over herati or boteh repeats, sometimes around a diamond medallion, in fine drawing.

Construction

Senneh rugs are thin and use the symmetric knot, despite the trade term 'senneh knot' for the asymmetric knot. The back often feels rough, like sandpaper.

• Symmetric knots
• Single weft
• Very short pile
• Rough-feeling back

Senneh kilims

Senneh slit-tapestry kilims are among the finest Iranian flatweaves, with small repeating designs.

Buying checklist

• Ask the seller what the regional name is based on: town, village group or design only
• Turn the rug over and look at knot type, warp colour and weft count
• Check ends, sides and pile height for wear or re-weaving
• Ask whether dyes have run or been chemically washed
• Feel the back: a sandpaper-like texture is typical of Senneh pile rugs
• Get any claim about age, region or handmade origin in writing

Care

Thin rugs are better on a wall or in light traffic. Hang only with a proper sleeve.

A note on this guide

This is general information from the CraftPersia editorial team and has not been reviewed by a specialist. Regional names in the rug trade are market labels, and design alone is weak evidence of origin. This guide is not a valuation or authentication.