Afghan Baluch Prayer Rugs

In this section:
Baluchi Kaudani Prayer Rug

Baluchi Kaudani Prayer Rug

This is a classical Kaudani Baluch. It is attributed to the Chahar Aymaq, and Kaudani is a dialect of Chahar Aymaq, very possibly a variation of Timuri. The wool is excellent, and if this one survives the next century it will be very collectable. In the mean time it is a splendid rug for the floor.

Northwest Afghanistan, 20th century.

Intact full pile rug in unused condition. 2 foot 9 inch by 4 foot 5 inch. (not including fringe).

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left. 11 knots per horizontal inch and 14 knots per vertical inch. 154 per square inch (2387 per square decimeter). Depressed warps.

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply tan wool

Weft: 2 shot gray cotton with areas of 1 inch sections of additional wefts to keep the sides even. Very sophisticated weaving.

Pile: 2 Wool singles.

Ends: Top: 5 inch weft replacement tapestry skirt with row of twining and warp fringe

Selvages: Double looped on two warp units. Maroon wool.

Further Notes: New Condition.


Timuri Prayer Rug

Timuri Prayer Rug

It is an outstanding rug combining features usually only seen in the best of the very old rugs. From the wool wefts which are very rare to the unusual design.

The Timuri is a dialect of the Chahar Aymaq language, but as weavers only the Timuri tie their selvage this precisely. It is asymmetrically knotted except for the outer 5 rows of knots are symmetrically knotted. This is normally only seen in old Tekke Turkmen rugs.

Northwest Afghanistan 20th century.

Intact full pile rug in unused condition.

2 foot 9 inch by 5 foot 2 inch. (not including fringe).

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left except for the outer 5 rows each side which are symmetrically knotted. 12 knots per horizontal inch and 6.5 knots per vertical inch. 78 per square inch (1209 per square decimeter). Flat back.

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply Wool, tan.

Weft: 2 shots 2 ply brown wool

Pile: 2 Wool singles.

Ends: Top: 4.5 inch plain-weave, twinning, and weft replacement tapestry, and warp fringe.

Bottom: 5 inch plain-weave, twinning, and weft replacement tapestry, and warp fringe.

Selvages: Double looped on two warp units. Dark brown goat hair. The selvage is very neat and precise as seen in pre-World War 1 Timuri rugs.

Further Notes: Excellent condition. The skirts are exceptional. The selvage extremely good, this is a much better than average Baluch type rug.


Baluch Type Prayer Rug

Baluch Type Prayer Rug

This is a new Baluch Type Dohktar-i-Ghazzi Prayer rug. The color is excellent, and the rug is very well made. This may become collectable someday, but it is really a good choice for floor use. A very nice example of a later type Chahar Aymaq.

Northwest Afghanistan, 20th century.

3 foot by 4 foot 9 inch. (not including fringe)

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open left. 8 knots per horizontal inch and 9 knots per vertical inch. 72 per square inch (1116 per square decimeter). Medium depressed.

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply ivory wool. Hand plied.

Weft: 2 shots cotton.

Ends: 1 inch plain weave with warp fringe.

Selvages: 2 cord double wrapped in blue wool.

Further Notes: Excellent rug in new condition. The unusual niche of the Mihrab is a variation of one that is called the Sultan’s head design. It is more commonly seen in Turkish prayer rugs.


Baluch Prayer Rug

Baluch Prayer Rug

This is a prayer rug made by the Baluch from Afghanistan. The wool is new and lanolin rich. The knot count is higher than average for a Baluch. Quality is good. The design portrays Mecca which has great significance to the Baluch and all Islam. Rug portraying holy places are not very common but have been woven for as long as can be tracked.

Northwest Afghanistan. fourth quarter 20th century.

Intact full pile rug in unused condition.

2 foot 11 inches by 4 foot 8 inch. (not including fringe).

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left. 9 knots per horizontal inch and 9 knots per vertical inch. 81 per square inch (1255 per square decimeter)

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply wool, off-white.

Weft: 2 shots cotton, blue.

Pile: 2 wool singles.

Ends: Three row twining with 1 1/2 inch plain weave skirt and warp fringe.

Selvages: 2 cord red or blue wool.

Further Notes: New condition but very minor dye transference from the maroon to the tan field. The field is tan and the design is red, maroon. blue, and black. Please observe that the small 5 square maroon designs bled a little into the field.


Baluchi Kaudani Prayer Rug

Baluchi Kaudani Prayer Rug

2 foot 10 inch by 4 foot 11 inch

This is a classical Kaudani Baluchi. It is attributable to the Chahar Aymaq, and Kaudani is a dialect of Chahar Aymaq, very possibly a variation of Timuri. The wool is excellent, and if this one survives the next century it will be very collectable. In the mean time it is a splendid rug for the floor.

Northwest Afghanistan. 20 century.

Intact full pile rug in unused condition

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left. 10 knots per horizontal inch and 11 knots per vertical inch. 110 per square inch (1705 per square decimeter). Depressed warps

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply tan wool

Weft:2 shot gray cotton.

Pile: 2 Wool singles.

Ends: Top: 1/2 inch plain weave with row of twining and warp fringe

Selvages: Double looped on two warp units. Maroon wool.

Further Notes: New Condition.


Dohktar-i-Ghazi Prayer Rug

Dohktar-i-Ghazi Prayer Rug

Traditional pattern with very good glossy wool and great skirts. This rug is a prayer rug that is most appropriately attributable to the Chahar Aymaq people of Northwest Afghanistan.

Northwest Afghanistan. fourth quarter 20th century.

Intact full pile rug in unused condition. 53 in. by 34 inch. (not including fringe).

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left. 6 knots per horizontal inch and 9 knots per vertical inch. 54 per square inch (945 per square decimeter)

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply wool, off white and tan.

Weft: cotton, 2 shoots, blue.

Pile: 2 wool singles.

Ends: plain weave reduced, warp fringe.

Selvages: two 2 part cord double looped with blue wool.

Further Notes: New condition. Only 3 colors, blue, red, and maroon, but it looks nice. More utilitarian than collectable.


Baluch Type Prayer Rug

Baluch Type Prayer Rug

This is a new Baluch Type Dohktar-i-Ghazzi Prayer rug. The color is excellent and the rug is very well made. This may become collectable someday, but it is really a good choice for floor use. A very nice example of a later type Chahar Aymaq.

Northwest Afghanistan, 20th century. 3 foot by 4 foot 9 inch. (not including fringe)

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open left. 8 knots per horizontal inch and 9 knots per vertical inch. 72 per square inch (1116 per square decimeter). Medium depressed.

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply ivory wool. Hand plied.

Weft: 2 shots cotton.

Ends: 1 inch plain weave with warp fringe.

Selvages: 2 cord double wrapped in blue wool.

Further Notes: Excellent rug in new condition.


Baluchi Kaudani Prayer Rug

Baluchi Kaudani Prayer Rug

Northwest Afghanistan. 20th century.

Intact full pile rug in unused condition 2 foot 9 inch by 4 foot 5 inch. (not including fringe).

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left. 11 knots per horizontal inch and 14 knots per vertical inch. 154 per square inch (2387 per square decimeter). Depressed warps

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply tan wool

Weft: 2 shot gray cotton with areas of 1 inch sections of additional wefts to keep the sides even. Very sophisticated weaving.

Pile: 2 Wool singles.

Ends: Top: 5 inch weft replacement tapestry skirt with row of twining and warp fringe

Selvages: Double looped on two warp units. Maroon wool.

Further Notes: New Condition.


Older Kaudani Baluch Prayer Rug

Older Kaudani Baluch Prayer Rug

This is an older Kaudani Baluch Prayer rug. The color is very good, and the old ivory field is very attractive. A rug like this must be seen in natural light to really appreciate it. This rug is nicely made, and it is the sort of rug that can give years of good attractive use.

Northwest Afghanistan. Mid 20th century.

Size: 2 foot 11 inch by 4 foot 5 inch.

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left. 11 knots per horizontal inch and 10 knots per vertical inch. 110 per square inch (1705 per square decimeter).

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 1 ply white cotton.

Weft: 2 shots white cotton.

Pile: 2 wool singles.

Ends: Reduced overhand knots with .5 inch warp fringe.

Selvages: 3 cord reinforced black goat.

Handle: Soft, light-medium, durable, pliable.

Further Notes: Good condition, older, bottom reduced on end.


New Baluch Prayer Rug

New Baluch Prayer Rug

This is a very pretty small Afghan Baluch Prayer Rug. The pattern is a familiar one in Northern Afghanistan and is drawn from their Turkmen neighbors. The field seems to be natural undyed tan wool.

Northwest Afghanistan. fourth quarter 20th century. Intact full pile rug in unused condition. 2 foot 6 inch by 4 foot 3 inch. (not including fringe).

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the left. 7 knots per horizontal inch and 7 knots per vertical inch. 49 per square inch (760 per square decimeter)

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply Wool, tan.

Weft: 2 ply cotton, black.

Pile: 2 Wool singles.

Ends: 1 inch plain weave skirt and warp fringe.

Selvages: two cord wrapped in red wool.

Further Notes: New condition.