Late 19th century, 348 x 210 cm, Central Asia, West Afghanistan

Timuri main carpets are almost always woven in a dark palette offering little contrast. For this reason their designs are somewhat difficult to make out at first glance. Here, large two-dimensional palmettes, each enclosing a tree, and shield forms with salmon centres have been placed on a midnight blue ground covered in cruciform motifs and small arrowheads. According to Thomas Cole who studied the group, these distinctive rugs are from the area around Chakhansur, an Afghan town now situated in Sistan Province, north of the current border with Pakistan. The different designs used in the two kilim ends of this rug are an unusual feature. – Corroded light brown sections, slight signs of age and wear, several stitched tears and minor repairs. Original finishes all around.

AZADI, SIAWOSCH, Teppiche in der Belutsch-Tradition. Munich 1986, no. 9 *** BOUCHER, JEFF W., Baluchi Woven Treasures. Alexandria, VA 1989, pl. 59 *** COLE, THOMAS, Raising the Bar. In: HALI 128, London 2003, ill. p. 83 *** WISDOM, GARY A., Baluch Tribal