Posted by Marvin on November 30, 1998 at 15:22:07:
In Reply to: Re: Perspectives on the Salatchak discussion posted by James Allen on November 30, 1998 at 07:49:34:
: : Dear folks -
: : I’ve scanned a few images as we worked with the Salatchak discussion.
: : Several of you may have these but some others may not. Thought I’d share them.
: : First, here are two from Loges:
: : Then, there is an image from George O'Bannon's Moshkova translation.
: : Finally, an image perhaps unworthy of our attention, but to show that this format is still being woven, here is an image from Chris Walter's most recent "Cultural Survival" shipment. These pieces are vegetal dyes and handspun wools woven by Afghan Ersaris in Pakistan refugee camps and are purportedly traditional Ersari designs. This one looks more Yomud to me.
: : Regards,
: : John Howe
: : Thanks for the images John. I would like to translate the iconography of the first one for you. As you might be aware I see the so-called tree motif as the feathered end of an arrow. The arrow at the bottom of the weaving is framed in white then passes through red into white again where the central shaft of life passes under and through an arch. To me this is clearly a burial shroud and it says from birth through life the arrow or spirit of the deceased has been shot into the sky and into "heaven". James Allen
I still think these things were horse covers. While I don't believe everything in Tzareva's book, she also calls these shapes horsecovers. In fact one such in her book under the Ersari group with a squared-off mirhab design is clearly Yomud (symmetrical knots) and nearly identical to the one in the Straka collection. Marvin