Kurd, Quchan region northeast Persia. Some might doubt this is a Baluch weaving. The knot count and presence of both asymmetric and symmetric knotting, as well as cotton warps is, to say the least, atypical. Though, in feeling (literally, the wool is very soft and lustrous as one expects with Baluch weavings) and appearance (other than the end finish evident at the top end), it seems to be just that – made “in the Baluch style". The design, too, appears to be a Baluch “take", including eyes in the confronting animal heads flanking a pole from which they are suspended. The warps consist of hand-spun cotton – a marker (according to Dr. Murray Eiland in his studies of Chinese rugs) of some age, i.e. approximately mid 19th century. The four-cord selvedge, too, is a mystery, relegated in Baluch studies as one seen only in those weavings from the Torbat-i-Heydari region, but with a different finish here – a loosely wrapped brown wool, rather than the tightly bound dark and coarser wool or goat hair (?). But for what purpose was it made – perhaps as a chanteh missing the other half? We may never know for sure. 14" x 20" (35cm x 50cm) Asymmetric knot open left, symmetric knotting (border only), 4h x 6v = 24 kpsi.Colors (6): 3 blues (dark, medium, light), red, camel wool, natural brown. Published: Plate 103. Cole, T. FROM THE LAND OF THE SUN. THE RICHARD STEWART COLLECTION OF BALUCH RUGS, BAGS, AND TRAPPINGS. 2022.

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