Posted by R. John Howe on 09-13-2007 02:12 PM:

Colorful Balouch

Dear folks -

I need to say one more thing about the colorful Balouch that Jerry included.

Here, again, is an overall image of it:



One thing that I think feeds Jerry's interest in this piece is the field treatment. This "tree of life" design is frequent, but in this version, not only is the color gratifying, there are few "leaves."



This gives the field a very attractive spaciousness.

Regards,

R. John Howe

Posted by Richard Larkin on 09-13-2007 03:40 PM:

Hi John. Very interesting post. Regarding the Balouch, I note the deeply depressed warps as representing a very distinctive weave within the greater Balouch family. There is something about the way the nodes on the back of the rug stand out individually that immediately marks the piece as falling within the group. I lack the technical expertise to explain what gives rise to the effect. I'm sure it has to do with the interplay of the foundation materials, the pile yarn and techniques employed by the weaver at the loom. Anyway, I recognize the end product. I have never seen one of these pieces that did not have the reciprocal black and white running dog style border shown on Jerry's example.

Do you recall the size of this one? Was it large, or more towards the balisht end? It's a very good looking rug.

__________________
Rich Larkin

Posted by R. John Howe on 09-13-2007 03:57 PM:

Rich -

We could ask Jerry the size, but my memory is that it's perhaps a little short of 3' X 5'. It's not a balisht size.

Regards,

R. John Howe

Posted by Richard Larkin on 09-13-2007 04:14 PM:

Thanks, John. No need to pursue the size. My recollection is that these fully depressed warp pieces tend to be a bit on the larger end of this size range. More in the 4 x 6 camp than the 3 x 5.

__________________
Rich Larkin

Posted by James Blanchard on 09-13-2007 04:14 PM:

Hi John,

Perhaps you could repost the picture of the Baluch "right side up". I like it better that way and perhaps others will agree.

I agree it is a nice one, with a very pleasing palette.

James.

Posted by James Blanchard on 09-13-2007 05:10 PM:

A different look...

Hi John and all,

I think this looks more correct, and better...

James



Posted by R. John Howe on 09-13-2007 05:29 PM:

Dear folks -

I think the upside down orientation of the piece in my photo is the result of the haste with which we put it up again to take photos at the end of the session.

It may also be that we felt for pile direction and put it up with the pile pointing down. (Some rugs with "niche" formats are woven starting with the niche end.)

There's further problem on the TM's board. There the lighting is from above and "end to end" color differences one usually experiences when a rug is laying on the floor are reversed. On the board, we should actually be putting pieces up so that the pile points up (if we want to see the "best" color) but no one much does.

In any event, my apologies.

Regards,

R. John Howe

Posted by Marty Grove on 09-14-2007 10:53 AM:

No worries...

Hey, I just stood on my head John.

Really, from walking around on rugs all the time, our picture of them orients automatically, so we perceive them correctly however they lay.

Nicely,
Marty.