Baluch rugs

[Pete Constable Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pete Constable]

Firstly a thank you for letting me join this forum. I have 2 Baluch rugs that I would like to know the origin and age of.
thank you in anticipation. Pete

[Mikko Saikku Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mikko Saikku]

Dear Pete,

There are much more qualified people around, but I'll begin the commentary. To my admittedly not very experienced eye, your two rugs don't seem to represent very traditional Baluch work (coloration and the border of the second rug). I'd venture to guess they date from around mid-20th century (1960s/70s?).

Best,

Mikko Saikku

[Pete Constable]

Thanks Mikko. It all helps

[Steve Price Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Steve Price]

Hi Mikko

I agree about the second one. No firm opinion about the first. The colors don't look right, but seeing it in person might be different.

Steve Price

[Pete Constable]

Thanks Steve

[Chuck Wagner Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Chuck Wagner]

Hi Pete,

Your second piece looks to me like a very atypical 1960s-1970s piece from western Afghanistan, maybe Herat, but with very non-traditional palette and borders. These are known in the trade as "seh mihrab" (three arches) rugs. The warps look like hand-spun wool rather than mill-spun, which suggests manufacture prior to the Soviet invasion in 1979. I suppose it could be a post-invasion refugee camp piece but most of those use mill-spun wool (often gray) and frequently, cotton rather than wool.

The first piece strikes me as somewhat older, maybe 1940's-ish up to the 1960's rug from northern Afghanistan. Later pieces with nice white wool warps are uncommon.

Regards
Chuck

[Pete Constable]

Hello Chuck. My apologies if you’ve received replies from me already - had a few hiccups navigating the site.
Many thanks for all the info, especially all the background - fascinating. The warps on the second rug (dark one) are hand spun and double if that says anything. The selvidge on the paler rug is partially in striped (dark grey and white) thread of some sort.
Kind regards
Pete

[Guest Close Guest]

Hi Pete, I don't suppose you're the Pete Con that went through Walsall Art College years ago?

(Administrator note: Please log in, or register using your full name as the userid. We do not permit anonymous posts here. Thank you)

[Pete Constable]

Who are you ?

[Guest Close Guest]

Hello ‘guest’’. Yes I am the very same. Who are you ?

[Guest Close Guest]

Hi Pete,

Your second piece looks to me like a very atypical 1960s-1970s piece from western Afghanistan, maybe Herat, but with very non-traditional palette and borders. These are known in the trade as "seh mihrab" (three arches) rugs. The warps look like hand-spun wool rather than mill-spun, which suggests manufacture prior to the Soviet invasion in 1979. I suppose it could be a post-invasion refugee camp piece but most of those use mill-spun wool (often gray) and frequently, cotton rather than wool.

The first piece strikes me as somewhat older, maybe 1940's-ish up to the 1960's rug from northern Afghanistan. Later pieces with nice white wool warps are uncommon.

Regards
Chuck

Thanks Chuck. Yes to me the warps do look like they are hand spun and are double. Some of the selvidge on the other one appearsto be some sort of striped in deep grey (maybe black?) and white.

[Guest Close Guest]

I forgot to say thank you for all the background info’ - fascinating

[Guest Close Guest]

Sorry guest the last msg was meant for someone else

[Steve Price Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Steve Price]

Hi "Guest(s)"

You don't have to register to post, but I call your attention to the paragraph atop this page. You can accomplish this by simply overwriting the word "Unregistered" in the name field when posting. If you're registered (and logged in) this will happen automatically.

Please use your full name. We do not permit posting anonymously or under a pseudonym, ad hominem remarks, commercial promotion, comments bearing on the value of any item or on the reputation of any seller.

Thanks,

Steve Price