Baluch Rugs
In this section:
- Arab Baluch Rugs
- Balisht Baluch Rugs
- Baluch Bags
- Baluch Lion & Peacock Rugs
- Baluch Prayer Rugs
- Baluch Rugs with Botehs
- Flatweave Baluch Rugs
- Ghorbaghe Baluch Rugs
- Khorasan Baluch Rugs
- Mashad Baluch Rugs
- Mina Khani Style Baluch Rugs
- Mushwani Baluch Rugs
- Sistan-Baluchestan Province
- The Cole Afshar Baluch Rug 19th C.
- Timuri Baluch Rugs
- Turkmen Baluch Rugs
- Zabol Rugs
Baluch Rugs are really a type of rug rather than the output of one single ethno-linguistic group. Over a series of pages I will deal with Baluch and the various sub-types. baluch is a language so people whose primary language is Baluch are Baluchi. But the Baluch are also a political entity under Iranian law so the Government also defines who are the Baluch. Then there are the people who are always or even sometimes counted as Baluch. This group includes but not limited to: Barbari, Berberi, Chahar-Aimaq, Char Aimaq, Taimuri (Teimuri, Timuri, Taimouri), Teimurtash, Taimani, Zohri (Zuri), Jamshidi (Jamshedi, Djamchidi, Yemchidi, Dzhemshid), Firozkohi, Maliki, Mizmast, Chinghizi, Zainal, Baluchi, Baluci, Baloci, Makrani, Coastal Balochi, Kechi, Makrani (Lotuni), Rakhshani (Raxshani), Sarawani, Brahuidi, Birahui, Brahuigi, Kur Galli, Jharawan, Kalat, Sarawan.
When I first started looking at Oriental Rugs I started with Baluch rugs or more properly Baluch type. I assumed that Baluch rugs were woven Baluch weavers and that all this must be well documented so that we could look at the structure and pattern of a rug and look them up in a book and know exactly where they were woven and by what groups. But when I went to the books I found it was anything but the case.
In the rug trade when one says Baluch one may be referring to anyone of a number of types of rugs. This group includes:
Southern Baluch
- Southern Baluch weave mostly Flatweaves. The Southern Baluch weave Kilims that I suspect would test to show a great deal of undyed wool. Consequently the Kilims are fairly somber. They are also noted for their embroidery.
- Dialect: Makrani (Lotuni)
Western Baluch
- About half of the Western Baluch have settled but many are still migratory herders. Major producers of rugs, bags, trappings, etc..
- There are about 600,000 Western Baluch about two thirds of them are in Iran with most of the rest in Afghanistan and a few in Turkestan. Under the Shah in Iran they were recognized as both a tribe and a political party.
- Dialects: RAKHSHANI (RAXSHANI), SARAWANI.
Examples:
Late 19th C. Baluch Rug
Size: 5ft. 10in. by 3ft. 6in.
Warp: Cream wool
Weft: Brown wool
Knots: Symmetric wool, some pale blue cotton.
Condition: Good
Sides: Original 2 cord hair, selvage repaired.
Ends: Kelims
Pile: Fairly good
Baluch Rosette Lattice Rug
Description: Persian Baluch Rug
Size: 3 foot 6 inch by 6 foot 6 inch.
Notes: This is a very pretty traditional pattern Persian Baluch Rug. It is a new handmade pile rug from Iran. It is handmade and in new condition.
Size: 2 foot 8 inch by 7 foot.
Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left. 8 knots per horizontal inch and 9 knots per vertical inch. 72 per square inch (1116 per square decimeter).
Color: Raspberry, onyx, ivory.
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: 3 ply corded white cotton.
Weft: 2 shots gray cotton.
Pile: 2 wool singles.
Ends: Post-hitch wharf binding, with 1 inch warp fringe.
Selvages: 4 cord reinforced black goat.
Handle: Soft wool, medium, durable.
Further Notes: Very good condition, some wear of selvage and on bottom corners.
Antique Kurd or Bahluli Baluch Rug
Date: Late 19th or early 20th century.
Size: 2 foot 11 inches by 5 foot 2 inch. (not including fringe).
Structure: Symmetrical knot. 8 knots per horizontal inch and 9 knots per vertical inch. 72 per square inch (1116 per square decimeter). Slightly depressed warps.
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: 2 ply Wool, ivory.
Weft: 2 shots 2 ply tan wool
Pile: 2 Wool singles.
Ends: Warp fringe
Selvages: Two cord brown wool
Further Notes: This rug is in very good condition. There have been some restoration and the rug is in very good condition. The brown areas show sign of corrosion in keeping with it’s age.
This is an excellent Antique Baluch Rug. The color is excellent and the camel color may actually be camel wool instead of sheep’s wool. The delicate beauty and sophistication of this piece make me think it is from the Qainat.
Large Baluch Sumac
Origin: Northwest Afghanistan, late 20th century.
Size: 3 foot 7 inch by 6 foot 3 inch.
Structure: Sumac weave
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: 2 ply tan wool.
Weft: 2 ply tan wool.
Ends: Overhand knots with 3 inch warp fringe.
Selvages: 2 cord interlaced brown wool.
Handle: Light, durable, pliable.
Further Notes: Excellent condition.
This is a large heavy duty durable floorcovering. It is a particularly nice Baluch Sumac Kilim. I suspect that these may be Hazara but in the marketplace these are called Baluch.
Baluch Rug, c.1900
Region: Persia
Size: ca. 204 x 111 cm.
Baluch Rug, c.1900
Size: 5ft. 9in. by 3ft. 2in.
Warp: white wool
Weft: gray-brown wool
Knots: asymmetric, open to the left, all wool
Condition: very good
Sides: original 4 cord hair selvage
Ends: some kelims
Pile: very good
Baluch Rug, Late 19th C.
Size: 4ft. 4in. by 2ft. 8in.
Warp: white and brown wool
Weft: gray-brown wool
Knots: symmetric, all wool, pulled left.
Condition: quite good
Sides: original 4 cord hair selvage
Ends: Kelims and knotted fringes
Pile: Fairly good
Exclusively Baluch Plate 5
Date: Late 19th C.
Size: 5ft. 6in. by 2ft. 9in.
Warp: cream wool
Weft: light brown wool
Knots: Asymmetric, open to the left, all wool
Condition: good
Sides: original hair sidecord selvage (repaired)
Ends: Kelims and knotted fringes
Pile: good
Exclusively Baluch Plate 6
Date: Late 19th century
Size: 5ft. by 2ft. 8in.
Warp: white wool
Weft: dark gray wool
Knots: symmetric, all wool, pulled left.
Condition: quite good
Sides: original 2 cord hair selvage
Ends: end panels and some kelims
Pile: fairly good
Exclusively Baluch Plate 7
Date: Late 19th C.
Size: 3ft. 11in. by 2ft. 3in.
Warp: white/brown wool
Weft: brown wool
Knots: asymmetric, open to the left, all wool
Condition: quite good
Sides: original 2 cord selvage
Ends: short kelims
Pile: fairly good
Note: 7 animals in the field
19th century Persian Baluch
Description: This is an attractive, late 19th century Persian Baluch.
Taimani Baluch Rug
Size: 2 foot 8 inch by 4 foot 2 inch.
Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left. 9 knots per horizontal inch and 8 knots per vertical inch. 72 per square inch (1116 per square decimeter)
Color: Tan, red, midnight blue, ivory, royal blue, tangerine.
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: 2 ply brown wool.
Weft: 2 shot brown wool.
Pile: 2 wool singles.
Ends: Heavy crossed wefts 1 inch warp fringe.
Selvages: Single cord overcastting blue wool.
Handle: Soft, pliable, light.
Further Notes: Excellent condition.
This a very pretty tribal rugs from one of the villages in Northwest Afghanistan. I do not see a lot of this type but I have come across them before. The most intriguing part of this rug is the interplay of the negative space images.
This is a handmade Taimani Baluch Rug. The dyes are good. It dates to the late 20th century.
Baluch Rug with Asmalyk Design
Baluch Rug, North East Persia, late 19th C.
Size: ca. 206/ 201 x 138 cm.
Baluch Rug, North East Persia
Date: around 1900
Size: ca. 200 x 121 cm.
Baluch Rug, Persia, second half 19th C.
Origin: Northeast Persia
Size: 4ft. 7in. x 2ft. 9in.
Condition: Crease repair, some wear to one end, some selvage damage.
Baluch Rug
Origin: Kashmar area, late 19th century
Size: 2ft. 11in. x 5ft.
Baluchi Rug, North East Persia, c.1910
Size: ca. 134 x 76 cm.
Baluchi Rug, North East Persia
Date: around 1910
Size: ca. 184 x 100 cm.
Belouch Rug with Tree of Life Border
Origin: East Persia, circa 1900
Measurements: approximately 4ft. 7in. by 2ft. 8in. (1.40 by 0.81m.)
Condition Note: Original polychrome banded kilim end finishes.
Baluch Type Afghan War Rug
Origin: Northwest Afghanistan. 4th quarter 20th century. 3 feet 8 inches by 6 feet 8 inches (not including fringe).
Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left. 9 knots per horizontal inch and 11 knots per vertical inch. 99 per square inch (1395 per square decimeter)
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: 2 ply Wool, Tan.
Weft: Gray Cotton, 2 shots.
Pile: 2 Wool singles.
Ends: 1/2 inch plain weave.
Selvages: two 2 part cord double looped with black goat.
Further Notes: Excellent condition, in “As New Condition”. Slight dye transference in the fringe. Intact, full pile rug.
Excellent Afghan war rug from the Chahar Aymaq people of the Herat area in what is now called Afghanistan. Very vivid war imagery, tanks, machine guns, assault rifles, and a surprising number of landmines. Afghanistan is strewn with landmines and many are quick to condemn the use of landmines. Landmines are used because they are a rebel’s weapon or one that can be used by an under funded army.
Here we have a wide variety of weaponry. A tank flanked by two had grenades with a grenade launching machine gun on top. Under that a helicopter surrounded by assault rifles. The assault riffles are in the style only seen in the Herat area.