Baluch Rugs: Baluchi Rug – Quatrefoil design

Daniel's Comments:

The quartered foil design and the main border with a continuous vine or Turkoman line, are often encountered in Baluchi rugs. Problems with symmetrical knotted Baluchi type rugs is to know if they are Kurdish or Turkish. Is there a clue to make the difference?

Barry' Comments:

About 10% of all Baluch rugs are symmetrically knotted. I wish I had some easily applicable rule to tell a Baluch from a Kurdish or Turkish rug but it is not that simple. Design comes into play this rug for instance has a fairly common Baluch border. Color comes into play as well, this has a very dark palette and a fairly low number of colors (5). The ends are important as well. this rug has a very common stripped pattern to the skirts. The minor borders are common as well, tappets are a popular design. The main field quatrefoil medallions use a repeating leaf that is common in Baluch. The three cord dark goat selvage is exactly what we would expect with a Baluch rug. Ideally I would want to feel the rug for handle and wool quality but I feel comfortable in calling this a Persian Baluch. Not Afghan, Timuri, Qarri, or any other type, definately Baluch.

Picture and information courtesy of Belgium Collector Daniel  DSD.