Khamse Rugs

The Khamse (or Khamseh) Confederacy was a group of nomadic tribes in Southern Persia. Their rugs are known for “bird” motifs, small, stylized chickens or eagles scattered throughout the field, representing the nomadic connection to the natural world, but the habit is rarer in our stock than the reputation suggests: only one of the nine antique Khamseh rugs we hold carries the bird design value.

Khamse rugs are known for a deep, saturated palette, and in our records that palette is blue and red rather than brown: four of the nine are blue, two red, two ivory and one coral, and not one is catalogued brown. They are soulful, tribal carpets that offer a sense of ancient history and nomadic life, perfect for adding texture and narrative to a room.

Khamse rugs originate from a powerful confederation of five nomadic tribes in Southern Persia, bringing distinct, authentic tribal artistry to every knot. Known for their dramatic use of deep color palettes and highly geometric designs, these pieces perfectly encapsulate the history of rugs from Persia and Iran; discover more about their unique tribal designs and motifs in our expert guides. Two numbers are worth knowing before you search this archive. The Khamsehs are the oldest south Persian tribal rugs we hold, 5 of the 9 in stock carrying a 19th century date against 1 of 13 Gabbehs, and they are the dearest of that family by area, with the top piece running 349 dollars a square foot. Our Gabbeh, Qashqai and Khamseh buying guide measures all 26 of them, with the prices matched on size and period.