Posted by Steve Price on April 03, 1999 at 11:50:10:
In Reply to: Re: Paired bag faces posted by Marla Mallett on April 03, 1999 at 10:39:54:
Dear Marla and Wendel,
You've both made the point that for a nondirectional design the weaver can proceed as she pleases. But the subject was raised by Yon's observation (which I confirm, but with a very small number of samples) concerning Turkmen bagfaces. As it turns out, Turkmen bagfaces are almost always directional, with a skirt at one end. This is one of the ways we can tell which is the top and which is the bottom, of course.
The subject of Turkish prayer rugs sometimes being woven "upside down" was raised, but very often these pieces have "upside down" flowers, too. It has been suggested that they really weren't weaving upside down flowers, but that it is us who are confused about which part of the directional design belongs at the top. I have no special knowledge of this matter, but the explanation has a ring of sensibility to it for me.
Regards,
Steve Price