SENNEH or SANANDAJ

Sanandaj, once known as Senneh, is located in the heart of Kurdistan, about 150 km from Hamadan. The name means fortress of Sanan. It is a very famous name, because it is name of the Persian knot - the Senneh knot . Paradoxically enough, however, the rugs in this area are made with Turkish knots  (Ghiordes). Traditionally, these rugs are small, even if contemporary demands from foreign markets have prompted the production of larger sizes. The decoration is a full-field repeat of small, closely spaced patterns, from the more frequent Herati to boteh, to hasht goli (eight flowers). Often these designs are grouped inside concentric diamond shapes with a contrasting background, which is often dark - blue or black - and the design itself is in bright shades of green, red and orange. This area is also known for its Kilims that are woven with a very fine slit, with tiny - albeit stylized - patterns similar to those used on the rugs.