Antique Baluch tribal weavings are well known for their often complex allover designs, which draw upon both classical Persian weaving and the repertoire of their Turkoman tribal neighbors. Earlier Baluch pile rugs and carpets, however, were always woven with elaborate kilim ‘skirts’ that both protected the pile portion of the rug, while also adding to its effect with contrasting flatwoven embellishment. These skirts usually consisted of striped designs that had additional finely patterned detail added in weft-float embroidered technique. At times though, Baluch weavers would weave entire rugs or small carpets in such flatwoven technique, like this magnificent example. The main design utilizes alternating bands of soft red and blue, rendered in variegated tones or ‘abrash.’ The blue bands are further elaborated with finer interior stripes in red, with additional embellishment of thin black meanders intervening between the red and blue bands. The ends of the rug are then enriched with designs of stepped diamonds and crenelations in weft-float technique against a deep chocolate ground. The fine designs of the ends picks up the meander transitions of the field and underscore the central theme of the rug - the contrast between ‘micro’ design detail and ‘macro’ effects of color. One last band of ivory caps off the ends with a knotted fringe finish. A masterpiece of tribal craftsmanship and subtlety.
