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rug no longer available NW Persian Kurdish or Afshar rug, large blossom medallion

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NW Persian Kurdish or Afshar rug, large blossom medallion—click to see enlarged view

Design and attribution

This small and charming rug with excellent dyes has some signs of being a beginner's rug. For example, it gets narrower towards the centre, then some rows are merged towards the sides, probably to return to an even level, and the rug widens again. It has other peculiarities, such as a change of weave at the bottom from a double-wefted start (outer border) to a much denser single-wefted weave for the star border, to return to a more spacious weave with wide bands of weft (mostly two wefts per shoot) which remind of south Persian gabbeh weave.

Three large hexagon medallions fill the centre field. Each holds a huge eight-petalled flower with a Kurdish-looking pinnacle motif in the centre. In each petal, a flower is inscribed. The red field is filled with a variety of abstract, animal and plant motives. Noteworthy are the striped birds, perhaps.

The complex and carefully executed star main border stands in a strange contrast to the simplicity of the drawing of the octagon medallions and scatter motives.

Structure

The rug measures 175 x 100 cm (5ft.9in. x 3ft.3in.), narrower in the centre. Symmetrical knots, no warp depression. Mostly double-wefted, with two or more thick cotton wefts in one shoot. Eight symmetric knots horizontally; vertical knot count varies between 6 and 9 (highest in the single wefted area of the bottom border), which makes about 56 kpsi.

Colour

All natural dyes, strong and clear, no bleeding or tip fading.

Condition

As can be seen from the images, there is a noticeable vertical band of wear exposing some of the foundation, also abraision of the selvages and some end loss that needs to be stopped. A tar stain and an ink stain on the back. The rug was very dirty when I got it, but has been hand-washed and is now clean.

More images

Kurdish or Afshar rug, large blossom medallions- top half

Kurdish or Afshar rug, large blossom medallions- middle area

Kurdish or Afshar rug, large blossom medallions- bird detail

Kurdish or Afshar rug, large blossom medallions- border

Kurdish or Afshar rug, large blossom medallions- upper end finish

Kurdish or Afshar rug, large blossom medallions- middle field

Kurdish or Afshar rug, large blossom medallions-  lower half

Kurdish or Afshar rug, large blossom medallions- pile detail

Kurdish or Afshar rug, large blossom medallions- back side

Last update: 29 May 2007 | Impressum—Imprint