Belouch Prayer Rug 33" x 56"

[Frank Petruziello Member Find all posts View Profile Close Frank Petruziello]

Hello all, I wonder what your thoughts might be on this Belouch prayer rug I recently purchased? The Turkmen curled leaf border interested me especially. Even the block figures between the tree of life leaves appear to have a Turkmen influence. The knots are open to the left, the selvedges appear to be goat hair wrapped around camel or horse hair. A few of the warps are twisted light and dark. The colors are good, the black is corroded and the blue is wonderful but hard to discern without direct sunlight as noted in one of the pictures.

Frank

[Frank Petruziello Member Find all posts View Profile Close Frank Petruziello]

Since a few members have viewed this post are there any thoughts on what area this was woven given its Turkmen influences? Maybe northeast Iran? Also, any thoughts on age?

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

Hi Frank,

The layout of this rug and the palette are quite consistent with central western Afghanistan, near and west of Farah and north and south along the east side of the border.. It is not typical of those from Khorassan in eastern Persia, or the pieces from further north along the Turkmenistan border, which have a longer aspect ratio and a different layout, often with "hands of Fatima" in the upper corners of the field.

You are correct in noting the Turkmen-like motifs, but a Turkmen weaver would render the motifs correctly, not approximately. This piece seems to me to be woven from memory by a Baluch weaver, perhaps after seeing Turkmen work at some point, but not having a piece to use as a reference. In particular, the main vine border is a good try but rather orthogonal in comparison to the borders used on Tekke ensis. And while the field motif has the look of a Tekke torba, it also has classic Baluch "tree of life" leaves combined into it.

Contrast the curled leaf border with the examples on this Jozan page, and Lot 53 in particular:

https://www.jozan.net/oriental-rugs-...gs/tekke-rugs/

I'd guess this at Q4 19th century to early 1900's w/respect to age, mostly because Baluch rugs often seem well worn for their age.

Regards
Chuck

[Frank Petruziello Member Find all posts View Profile Close Frank Petruziello]

Thanks Chuck, your analysis is great as usual. I have tried to compare this rug to examples in the Craycraft book on Belouch prayer rugs but was unable to get a decent match of type. If you have the book can you suggest which group this piece might be in?

thanks as always for your insights,
Frank

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

Hi Frank,

I finally found my copy; I agree there are no close matches , especially w/respect to the motifs. That said, I think the basic layout elements of the first four pieces in his Group 1 Belouch section are the closest matches to yours. In that group, the outer border is carried all the way around the top of the rug, unlike others later on in the book.

Regards
Chuck

[Frank Petruziello Member Find all posts View Profile Close Frank Petruziello]

Thanks Chuck for taking the time to research the rug. I appreciate your analysis. The reason that I initially thought the rug might be from NE Iran is due to the thought that design travels but technique doesn’t. Not sure if that’s true but if so, to my eye the rugs of the Qaint region are more similar in technique and format. To me plate 33 is most similar in construction but obviously not similar in design. The selvedges are a very similar construction and many of the warps are barber pole. Also, the rug is more rectangular than the type 1 rugs. Just my thoughts.

Frank

[Joe Lawrence Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe Lawrence]

I agree with Chuck. From my research most are dated Q4 19th century to early 1900's for similar sizes and design, color etc.. wonderful piece.