Iranian Kurdistan borders Turkey and Iraq, with Sanandaj (Senneh) and Bidjar (Gerous) being the most important production centres.
But in addition to this border region, the Kurdish population can be found in various enclaves in the four corners of the country (Veramine, Qazvin, Kermanshah etc). Those from the Quchan region (Khorasan province) are distinguished by their rich and varied production of small pieces in shimmering colours, reminiscent of Caucasian carpets in their geometry and freshness of tone. This is at least the case for the older pieces, as the more recently produced carpets have clearly been influenced by the Turkomans.
Part of the Kurdish population has lived in Khorasan since Safavid times, while other tribes only arrived in the 19th century. They settled in the area for a variety of reasons:
• forced emigration in the case of the Caucasian Kurds, who abandoned their lands when the Ottomans invaded in 1576
• tribes exiled for political reasons on the orders of Shah Abbas around 1600. He did this with the aim of mixing ethnic groups loyal to the central government with subversive elements from certain territories where the situation was difficult to control.
• suppressing local revolts by deport part of the population by force.