Zabol Rugs

Antique Zabol Rugs of Iran

Many Baluch rugs come from a large body of rug weaving Baluch in Sistan-Balouchestan Province. Zahedan is the Administrative Center (capital) of Sistan-Balouchestan Province and is a center of political and administrative activities. In the south the port of Chabahar is a free trade and industrial zone with a growing importance as a port for fisheries and shipping. Zabol, is the main city and market center of the agricultural area of Sistan-Balouchestan Province.
Iranshahr is the main industrial city of Sistan-Balouchestan Province.

Iranian Ethnic Groups – Baluch.

Never being particularly shy I have proposed to the nice folks at Summers Institute of Linguistics a new language classification for inclusion in the Ethnalogue:

Sistani, alternate name Zaboli. It should show up as one of the 11 Persian languages i.e. Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian. It is spoken in Sistan Baluchistan in Iran and the dialects are Sarbandi, Shahraki, Sargazi, Zamir-Farsyoon, Mir-Arab and Sanjarani. Large percentage bilingual in Western Farsi.

region map
The coral colored area represents the Baluch area and the white crescent indicates that the Baluch are Sunni.

Examples:

Baluch Balisht
Baluch Balisht

Baluch Balisht

This dyes in this piece are spectacular. The aubergine is about as good as I have ever seen. The reds are spectacular as is the green. There is, as one would expect in a piece of this age, a corrosive brown but fortunately it is used very sparingly in the outer guard border..

My theory is that these are descended from grain sacks but at a certain point they there was a dichotomy of intent with ones like this made primarily as a cushion. This would have had a back when it was made but that is of course now gone.

This is piece dates to circa 1890. All the dyes look Natural. It is a handmade pile weaving from Iran.  It is handmade and in very good condition. The bottom right corner is fine the skirt just rolled.

Size: 1 foot 8 inch by 3 foot 5 inch.

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left. 7 knots per horizontal inch and 8 knots per vertical inch. 56 per square inch (868 per square decimeter)

Color: Navy blue, aubergine, red, forest green, ivory, brown.

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply tan wool.

Weft: 2 shots brown wool.

Pile: 2 wool singles.

Ends: 3.5 inch plain weave with .5 inch warp fringe.

Selvages: 1 cord plain brown wool.

Handle: Soft, light, pliable

Further Notes: Very good condition, wear to pile along top, wear to selvage.


Baluch Balischt, late 19th century
Baluch Balischt late 19th century

Baluch Balisht of the Sistan/Zabol Area

Northeast Persia, late 19th century, (slight moth damage), 2 ft. 4 in. x 1 ft. 7 in.


Baluch Balischt, late 19th century
Baluch Balischt late 19th century

 

Baluch Balisht of the Sistan/Zabol Area

Northeast Persia, late 19th century, 2 ft. 8 in. x 1 ft. 4 in.


Baluch Rug, North East Persia, century 1900
Baluch Rug North East Persia century 1900

Baluch Rug of the Sistan/Zabol Area

Description: BALUCH

Origin: North East Persia

Date: around 1900

Size: ca. 167 x 87 cm


Old Zabol Baluch Flatwoven Rug
Old Zabol Baluch Flatwoven Rug
Old Zabol Baluch Flatwoven Rug

Zabol Baluch Flatwoven Rug

Baluch weft substitution flatwoven rug from Iran, Afghanistan, or Pakistan. This is one of the few uncharted areas in rug collecting. We don’t really know for sure where this rug is from or who made it. I am inclined to rule out Pakistan Baluchistan Baluch because of the color. Then I am torn between Persian Baluch or Afghan Qal-i-Nau Hazara. The Baluch weave these and so do the Hazara. In the 1880 the Durani Pashtuns conquered the Hazara. The slaughtered them and forced many into slavery. Those who would convert to Sunni Islam from Shia Islam were given land near Qal-i-Nau. Their descendants weave rugs like this but the colors are more in the typical color range seen in Afghan goods. So when in doubt look at the wool. The wool does not look right for an Afghan rug. So in my roundabout way I have too attribute this rug to the Baluch of Persian Baluchistan (the Zabol area).

Baluch, Persian Baluchistan, late 19th or early 20th century. 3 Foot 3 inch by 7 foot 9 inch.

Structure: weft faced weave with weft substitution pattern.

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply Wool, white.

Weft: ground color.

Ends: Bottom: goat lace.

Ends: Top: 1/2 inch half hitch band.

Selvages: plain selvage.

Condition: fair condition, wear and some small holes sides and field.


Baluchi rug, Zabol area East Persia circa 1930-50
Baluchi rug, Zabol area East Persia circa 1930-50

Comments: Nice camels in the field and hoses in the medallions.

Baluch Balisht of the Sistan/Zabol Area

Baluchi rug, Zabol area, east Persia about 1930-50, 7ft.3in. x 3ft. 11in. 2.21m. x 1.20m.


Baluchi Bag, Zabol area 19th century
Baluchi Bag, Zabol area 19th century

Baluchi Bag, Zabol area 19th century
Baluchi Bag, Zabol area 19th century

Baluch Bag of the Sistan/Zabol Area

Baluch Bag Face, Persia, 19th century, 1’10” x 2’4″, $750

Colorful Baluch weavings are becoming a more popular and visible art form in the marketplace of today. Somehow, these weavings escaped the attention of early Baluch collectors but are now making inroads into some of the most highly visible and established collections. Known previously in the market as “Mushwani”, they have subsequently been identified as originating from SE Persia, representing a weaving style practice by some of the Persian based tribes. The undulating concentric latch hook forms is quite nice, a beautiful visual image.

COLORS — All natural dyes, saturated palette.

CONDITION — Good, no holes, no wear. This is an antique textile therefore it cannot be expected that it will be in “new condition”. The terms used for describing condition are consistent with common usage in the marketplaces all over the world.

Comments: The interlocking latch hooks pattern with the use of green as well as the main border points to an attribution of Shahraki Sarbandi.


Baluch Bagface
Baluch Bagface

Baluch Bagface
Baluch Bagface


Sistan Baluch Rug circa 1920
Sistan Baluch Rug circa 1920

Baluchi prayer rug,

Sistan area, south east Persia about 1920,

4ft. 1in. x 3ft. 1.25m. x 0.91m.


Baluch Prayer Rug Sistan circa 1930-50
Baluch Prayer Rug Sistan circa 1930-50

Baluch Rug of the Sistan/Zabol Area

Baluchi prayer rug, probably Sistan region south east Persia about 1930-50, 4ft.5in. x 2ft.6in. 1.35m. x 0.76m.


1890 Seh Mihraba Baluch Prayer Rug
1890 Seh Mihraba Baluch Prayer Rug

1890 Seh Mihraba Baluch Prayer Rug

This is an antique Seh Mihraba Baluch rug. I believe that the tan around the field is undyed camel hair. There is a wonderful aubergine color as well. On the basis of color and design I suggest that this one is from Seistan province.

This is piece dates to circa 1890. All the dyes look Natural. It is a handmade pile weaving from Iran.  It is handmade and in good condition.

Antique Baluch Prayer Rug

Size: 2 foot 8 inch by 4 foot 2 inch.

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left. 7 knots per horizontal inch and 9 knots per vertical inch. 63 per square inch (976.5 per square decimeter)

Color: Charcoal, raspberry, camel, burnt sienna, umber, sapphire, ivory.

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply tan wool.

Weft: 2 shots charcoal wool.

Pile: 3 wool singles.

Ends: 1 inch plain weave and heavy-crossed wefts with 1 inch warp fringe.

Selvages: 2 cord double-looped charcoal wool.

Further Notes: Good condition, worn pile, worn down to knot in places, some wear on ends, Skirts still remain but should be stabilized.


Striped Persian Baluch Rug, late 19th century
Striped Persian Baluch Rug late 19th century

Baluchi rug,

Khorasan, north east Persia or west Afghanistan late 19th century,

6ft.9in. x 3ft.5in. Overall wear, slightly heavier top half, dark brown slightly corroded.


Old Zabol Baluch Flatwoven Rug
Old Zabol Baluch Flatwoven Rug

Baluch weft substitution flatwoven rug from Iran, Afghanistan, or Pakistan. This is one of the few uncharted areas in rug collecting. We don’t really know for sure where this rug is from or who made it. I am inclined to rule out Pakistan Baluchistan Baluch because of the color. Then I am torn between Persian Baluch or Afghan Qal-i-Nau Hazara. The Baluch weave these and so do the Hazara. In the 1880 the Durani Pashtuns conquered the Hazara. The slaughtered them and forced many into slavery. Those who would convert to Sunni Islam from Shia Islam were given land near Qal-i-Nau. There descendents weave rugs like this but the colors are more in the typical color range seen in Afghan goods. So when in doubt look at the wool. The wool does not look right for an Afghan rug. So in my round about way I have too attribute this rug to the Baluch of Persian Baluchistan (the Zabol area).
Baluch weft substitution flatwoven rug from Iran, Afghanistan, or Pakistan. This is one of the few uncharted areas in rug collecting. We don’t really know for sure where this rug is from or who made it. I am inclined to rule out Pakistan Baluchistan Baluch because of the color. Then I am torn between Persian Baluch or Afghan Qal-i-Nau Hazara. The Baluch weave these and so do the Hazara. In the 1880 the Durani Pashtuns conquered the Hazara. The slaughtered them and forced many into slavery. Those who would convert to Sunni Islam from Shia Islam were given land near Qal-i-Nau. There descendents weave rugs like this but the colors are more in the typical color range seen in Afghan goods. So when in doubt look at the wool. The wool does not look right for an Afghan rug. So in my round about way I have too attribute this rug to the Baluch of Persian Baluchistan (the Zabol area).
Old Zabol Baluch Flatwoven Rug
Baluch Type Flatweave

The dark wool is Indigo blue.