Draft:Shiriki-Pich

Shiriki-Pich

Type	Weft-wrapped textile (Pood-pichi)
Material	Wool, silk, natural dyes

Shiriki-Pich (Template:Lang-fa), also known locally as Gelim-e Suzani (Template:Lang-fa), is a traditional handwoven textile produced primarily in the Sirjan and Baft counties of Kerman Province, Iran. It differs from standard flat-weave kilims because the design is created using a weft-wrapping technique rather than by passing weft threads directly back and forth through the warp.

In 2017, the World Crafts Council (WCC) designated the city of Sirjan as a Global City of Handwoven Kilim, largely based on the historical and cultural significance of Shiriki-Pich production in the region. The nearby rural community of Darestan was also designated a Global Kilim Village.

Etymology

The name of the textile reflects both its weaving process and local traditions. The word Shiriki is derived from the Persian word for partnership or sharing. Historians believe this refers either to the historical custom of two weavers working side-by-side on a single loom, or to the physical structure of the knot, which wraps around two shared warp threads. Pich translates to "wrap" or "twist", describing the specific weaving technique used to create the fabric. In local dialects, it is also referred to as a "needle-kilim" (Gelim-e Suzani) because the dense, wrapped texture resembles hand embroidery (suzani).

Materials and weaving technique

Shiriki-Pich rugs are traditionally woven on vertical or horizontal wooden frame looms using highland sheep wool for both the structural warp and the pattern threads. The textiles are colored using natural dyes derived from plants and insects, including madder root for reds, indigo for blues, pomegranate peels for greens and browns, and cochineal for deep purples and crimsons.

The weaving process relies on a technique known as pood-pichi (weft-wrapping). Instead of creating a pattern by shuttle-weaving threads through an open shed, the weaver manually wraps colored yarn around pairs of warp strands. The loose ends of the yarn are drawn to the back of the rug rather than cut into a pile. After a row of knots is completed, the weaver inserts a thin structural weft thread across the loom and beats it down with a heavy metal comb (daftin). This compresses the wrapped knots into a tight, dense matrix, making the finished textile highly durable.

Design and motifs

Weavers traditionally create Shiriki-Pich patterns from memory or tribal custom rather than following printed blueprints. The central field of the rug is frequently divided into geometric compartments or features a central medallion. A common central motif is the Gol-o-Goldani (vase and flower), which represents the tree of life and features pedestal vases with blossoming branches.

The designs heavily incorporate stylized representations of animals and birds, including peacocks, storks, lions, and horses. In highly detailed pieces, these birds are woven into the floral branches, often set against their own individual background colors. The borders of the rugs feature repeating geometric or botanical patterns such as vines, leaves, and almonds.

According to regional nomadic folklore, leaving a background space empty would invite bad luck or evil spirits (Ahriman). To prevent this, weavers traditionally fill any open spaces in the rug's background with small geometric filler motifs, such as stars, hooks, or small wheels.

See also

• Kilim
• Persian carpet
• Soumak
• Pateh
• Sirjan

External links

• World Crafts Council Official Website

Category:Iranian rugs and carpets Category:Kerman Province Category:Textile arts of Persia Category:Kilims