Belouch Bird Bags Revisited

[Frank Martin Diehr]

Hello there,


I don't know if this qualifies as bare enough for the thread, but it is certainly fragmented enough:
It is the best part of the field of an unusual Timuri balisht, with a number of opposing pairs of unusual (though not unknown) birds in the Baluch tradition. What is left of the border, as well as structure and colour, point towards a Timuri origin. As is often the case, the close-up is a better representation of its actual colours. I know one should not say "unique", but I can't recall having seen another of this type before.

http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/frank_1.jpg

http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/frank_2.jpg

What do you think?


Kind regards


Frank

[James Blanchard]

Just chiming in to comment on Frank's Timuri balisht. Wow, that is a remarkable piece. Everything about it exemplifies the best of rugs from that region and weaving tradition.

Bravo!

James

[Rich Larkin]

Yes, James! Frank's balisht fragment is a showstopper.

Not the least of the interesting features is the drawing of the birds, which I do not think I have seen before, and the way they are grouped. Almost as though a talented choreographer was involved in posing them.

Rich

[James Blanchard]

Hi Rich,

The birds on Frank's piece represent a unique configuration, based on my experience. But the use of the low-contrast (red) birds with the white birds creates such an interesting aesthetic, that can only fit into the general "Baluch" oeuvre. That's partly why I tend to be a bit of a "grouper" when it comes to Timuri, "Baluch", and other weaving groups (like the Chahar Aimaq). Though they might come from different ethno-linguistic origins and have different structure, the aesthetic is uniquely "Baluch", and there is considerable overlap. I think this relates to Spooner's interesting ethnographic research that emphasizes how the Baluch were assimilatory in their social structure, which I think is reflected in their weaving designs and styles. With this broad grouping, I think we now tend to be a bit overly focused on attribution to tribes and sub-tribes, when there is so much to discuss with regard to variations in aesthetics.

Tom Cole wrote a very nice article on "Baluch Aesthetics", and John Taylor has assembled a rather impressive online collection with a basic design "taxonomy". Suffice to say, at this point I find myself looking more and more at aesthetic similarities and differences, and trying to discern which ones stand out and why. It's nothing new perhaps, but just where I am these days in my rugginess.

James

[Frank Martin Diehr]

Hello Rich, hello James, hi all,


I'm glad you like the Timuri kissing birds fragment. It is one of those pieces that when you see it you know that's a keeper! (And it came in a lot with another nice little bird bag (lousy photo, the blue is too bright).

http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/birdgag.jpg

I also showed the kissing birds to flush out the other pieces, because as soon as you call one unique, hey presto, ten more come crawling out of the woodwork. I have never seen another of that ilk, neither as a bagface nor a balisht. Even in its fragmented state this one shows the best of 'Timuri' qualities.


When I get round to it I'll add one or two more battered Baluchis (we're going into Covid19 lockdown soon ...), I have a few more interesting wrecks tucked avay somewhere.


Kind regards


Frank

[Rich Larkin]

Frank,

Such a sweet khorjin! The color of that creature in the middle of the bottom row is sublime in that setting!

Are they actually short-necked in that top row, or is there a very subtle cut and sew job there? I don't think so, though there seems to be just the faintest hint of a seam.

BTW, one occasionally comes across a comment in the literature linking that bird with the usual suspect proto-Anatolian antecedents, such as may be seen (in line drawing format) in Historical Turkish Carpets, Şerare Yetkin (Turkiye İs Bankasi Cultural Publications,1981), at Page 30, Diagram 11, a-f (in case you have access to that volume). Are you aware of any (published or not) Baluch versions of the bird that appear more archaic than this version; maybe even linking more directly to the older ones?

Rich

[Steve Price]

Hi All

We've had some fairly lengthy discussions of Belouch bird khorjins in the past. Doing a search from our Archives page will flush them out. Here's a link to one of them http://www.turkotek.com/misc_00096/birdbags.htm

This one hangs next to my computer monitor:

http://www.turkotek.com/misc_00096/birdbags_files/birdbag.jpg

It was part of Marvin and Frederika Amstey's Vanishing Jewels collection, and introduced me to them.

Belouch bird khorjins are kind of like sex and pizza. Even when they're not very good, they're better than most other things.

Steve Price

[Frank Martin Diehr]

Hi Steve

ah, Baluch bird bags ...

I don't think I participated in that thread, so it's perhaps time to dig out a few more and start a Battered Baluch Bird Bags thread (perhaps with the Timuri balisht frag, it's lot companion) and this one for company?
More and perhaps better pics will follow over time ...

http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/birdbag2.jpg

http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/birdbag3.jpg


Frank

[Frank Martin Diehr]

Frank,

Such a sweet khorjin! The color of that creature in the middle of the bottom row is sublime in that setting!

Are they actually short-necked in that top row, or is their a very subtle cut and sew job there? I don't think so, though there seems to be just the faintest hint of a seam.


Rich


Hi Rich


No, there is no cut: While the green one on the ground floor is ruling the roost, the big boys on the top floor just had to wind in their necks a bit (for a change).


Regards


Frank

[Frank Martin Diehr]

Hello Rich, hello James, hi all,


I'm glad you like the Timuri kissing birds fragment. I also showed the kissing birds to flush out the other pieces, because as soon as you call one unique, hey presto, ten more come crawling out of the woodwork. I have never seen another of that ilk, neither as a bagface nor a balisht. Even in its fragmented state this one shows the best of 'Timuri' qualities.


When I get round to it I'll add one or two more battered Baluchis (we're going into Covid19 lockdown soon ...), I have a few more interesting wrecks tucked avay somewhere.


Kind regards


Frank


Hi all,


and here's another bird bag front from my collection. Not quite as battered as some others on this thread. The red has indeed a very brownish hue, but what's left of the blue field is quite striking. Possibly Timuri as well. I like the birds looking back over their shoulders, as if to watch out what's coming from behind.

http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/frank_5.jpg http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/birdbag5.jpg


More to come ...


Frank

[Frank Martin Diehr]

Hi all,


as the birds have left the threadbare thread (thank you, Steve), here' s another of the same type as in #10.
It is in fairly good condition, with excellent Timuri? blues.

http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/birdbag4.jpg

I sometimes put them both up with the white birds facing each other, and for a while I had all three flocking together on my display wall, as they are all of similar smallish dimension.

Time to allow the chickens a stroll onto Turkotek!



Kind regards


Frank

[Rich Larkin]

Hi Frank,

The following post (which originally followed upon your post of the piece with the turned heads) should have stayed with this bird bag section, but it didn't make the transfer as the train was leaving the station. I am re-posting it here because I want my 2 cents worth (actual appraised value :money:) to stay over here with the master. :wizard:
Very cool, Frank. These pieces don't have to be flashy to be interesting, IMHO.

The first thing that struck me about the turned heads was a bunch of cows or sheep: standing around, looking here and there, but largely clueless... endearingly so nevertheless. Of course, they are neither cows nor sheep, it just struck me that way. In the end, it was the weaver's call.

What was she thinking? For example, what is that neck adjustment on the lower left? I see no functional reason for it, such as anticipating some technical necessity farther up in the rug. Do you think the women chatted about these important decisions? Were they joking? Anyway, charming piece.

Rich



In fact, I am very interested in any information about these birds and their career with the Baluch, or any other regional groups under that banner. It is quite clear that the weavers did a good deal of 'adjusting' of those critters (birds?) as demonstrated in the drawing on pieces that have survived (or so I think). These adjustments would include length of neck or legs, feet, crests, drawing of ornament (?) inside the torsos, etc. What is not so clear is how closely (if at all) the creatures can be related to much earlier bird-like forms, either in weavings or in surviving pictures of one kind or another. It would be nice if some interesting new (to me, at least) information shows up here.

Rich

[Frank Martin Diehr]

Hi Rich


These Baluch bird bags have always been of interest to me, most Baloonies will have a few - come on, let them see the light!


Someone in our Baluch rug collectors' group has studied those birds, i.e. their drawing, in great detail (but the drawings are not published, as far as I know). There is some variety in the drawing of these creatures, which are one of the most easily identifiable Baluch motifs. Some appear to have a Caucasian touch, others South Persian, but all easily labelled as Baluch, or in the Baluch tradition.



In some bags they look pretty uniform, just varying in colour but not drawing. But, as seen in the latest of my bags show here, quite often they become sprightly, like a flock in a pen.


I will let a few more out of their coop ...


Frank

[Frank Martin Diehr]

And while we're waiting for more, here is another one of mine. It was published in the "Freundeskreis" catalogue (in the 70s, I think), but you would hardly recognise it, as that publication was in b/w only.

http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/birdbag6.jpg

http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/birdbag7.jpg

Comments and comparable pieces always appreciated!


Kind regards,


Frank

[Rich Larkin]

Hi Frank,

This is my one example of this popular model in the greater Baluch repertoire.

http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/Birdbag_full1.jpg

It appeared in the 1991 Exhibition, "Through the Collector_s Eye," at the Museum of Art of the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. The exhibition was sponsored there by the predecessor of the New England Rug Society, and we can find the latter group listed in the Links section here on Turkotek. At the NERS website, you can work your way to their Galleries and browse the catalog, in which this piece is Plate 39. However, the appearance of that plate as raised through the aforementioned links is a little bit off the mark. In the catalog itself (hard cover), which is "around", the fidelity is a little better, but I think what I have posted above is a better likeness than either of the other two available views.

I think the strong point of the piece is the graceful rendition of the "birds," with their long necks and legs and the delicate crests. The curlicue filler design in the torsos is also well done. Even so, I was very surprised when it was selected for the Exhibition. It is well and evenly woven but not especially fine (72 kpsi). The wool is especially good, and the colors satisfying, but I considered it more of a good honest piece than a high flyer. However, I became aware it was very well thought of by some of the (very well credentialed) members of the review committee. Not that I wish to diminish the reputation of my own khorjin face.

When I acquired this item about forty years ago at auction, it was in such a condition due to soil that I was hardly able to make out the pattern. It is one of two Baluch I acquired (separately) that had been afflicted in a similar way. Each of them was suffused with a fine dried silt, as though they had been immersed in muddy water and dried. You could pretty much hold them like a sheet of birch bark, and the pile was mashed down helter-skelter, which along with the dirt made clear discernment of the pattern difficult. Fortunately, they washed out quite well, and the condition kept the bidding competition at bay in each instance.

Rich

[Frank Martin Diehr]

Hello Rich,


I agree, while the border system on your bag face is a bit bland, the drawing of the birds makes more that up for it. Sometimes it pays off to dig through the dirt!


I'm far busier than I thought in Corona lockdown, so I just throw in the next one of mine:

http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/birdbag8.jpg

http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/birdbag9.jpg


Observant ruggies will notice that this is the companion of the Wisdom piece, the other half of which he published in his book. From memory, Gary tells the story that he got the missing half of the khorjin (this one) offered, but was not quick enough to secure it, as he hesitated because he thought its condition was too poor!
Well, it has a few reweaves that start fading now (the photo is of my usual poor quality, and overexposed in direct sunlight). However, I find it lively with a coulourful coop of chickens and a hound (hardly visible in this photo), and instantly liked it, so it flew off to Germany.



More to come ...


Frank

[Dinie Gootjes]

Hi Frank,

I love all the bird bags. You started out with that unusual (unique?) balisht, but the last one is a bit special too, I think, in that the white bird is a solid colour, instead of having a white outline only.
I have two bird bags here, one is mine, the other is not mine, but it almost was. It was offered via Marktplaats, a Dutch on line selling/auction site. When I saw it, I bid on it right away, though it already had more bids. I stayed the high bidder for a week or two. After that I contacted the seller to ask if they were waiting for still higher bids or what. She told me that the rug had been sold a few weeks ago, but she was on holiday, and her husband had forgotten to take down the ad. :flush: A few years later it appeared in the Sorgato Baluch exhibition...

https://i.postimg.cc/PJsdPvYQ/David-Sorgato-baluch-exhibition-via-Marktplaats-sold-for-529-euro.jpg

For the other one I was more successful in the bidding. No great work of art, but a cheerful little thing. I find it funny that in the middle row, the one red bird has vertical bars for a tail, the other one has a chequer pattern, and the white one in the middle has a combination of the two.

https://i.postimg.cc/Gt5JFr3K/bird-Baluch-Wilbert-001.jpg

[Rich Larkin]

Hi Dinie,

The top one looks like a small rug rather than a bag. Do you know the dimensions?

Your second one has the much coveted pile_set_off_by_ corroded _black. Something satisfying about that, I say. And the checkerboard variation on those two tails is way cool. I wonder whether anybody was mentioning it, for good or ill, when that lady was weaving it.

Rich

[Frank Martin Diehr]

Hello Dinnie

I like them!

The top one, the one that flew to Italy?, could have been a Balisht. It has, of course a feature much rarer than a white-bodied bird in a bird bag: Human figures! Not just one, but two happy couples (it seems)!


So here is one of my sherpherds with his boys (and sheepdog?), ready to look after our shared flocks over on the other side of the bag face (not shown here):

http://www.turkotek.com/show_and_tell/birdbag10.jpg

Once we have exhausted the bird bags, perhaps we could move on to human figures on Baluch rugs.

Regards

Frank

[Dinie Gootjes]

Rich, Frank, I don't know the dimensions, but anyone who has the Sorgato book can probably find the information. And yes, those human figures were the main thing that drove me to bid on the basis of a dark, unclear picture. You could not even distinguish any colours beyond red and 'black'. I was just hoping it would turn out there was some blue and other colours. There was...