Bag face, hand-knotted woollen pile on woollen warp and weft; Central Asian, Beluch; 19th century

WARP: white wool; Z2S; 15 threads per inch (62 per dm).

WEFT: dark brown wool; Z2S; 2 shoots after each row of knots; 12 knots per inch (49 per dm).

PILE: wool; 7 colours: dark red, red, dark green, dark blue, blue, dark brown, white; asymmetrical knot open to the left, tied around two warp threads; 90 knots per sq. inch (1519 per sq. dm).

SIDE FINISH: 2 cords with returned weft.

END FINISH: Cut; there is evidence of plainweave with black woollen weft at the upper end.

DESIGN: Field: dark red ground with abrash outlined and divided into 4 by fine white and brown lines from a central white octagon containing an 8-pointed star in reds and blue; the octagon is outlined in brown and then blue. Diagonally from the outer blue extend stylized tendrils outlined in brown. On the horizontal bar on both sides are 2 pairs of inward-facing horns and on the vertical, angular lines suggesting a floral sprig. The ground has S-motifs and small geometric figures scattered over it.
Main border: dark blue ground merging with dark red along inner and outer sides to form reciprocal trefoils. The lower border and sides contain octagonal guls with a central 8-pointed star and each separeted by predominantly red bars forked at both ends. The upper border has 3 rosettes, the central one in dark green outlined and decorated with hooks and horns in red, the outer two in red with dark brown outlines and decorations; there is a scattering of small octagons, S-motifs etc..
Inner and Outer borders: brown ground with red barred X-motifs separating brown diamonds with blue decoration.

Date catalogued:11.12.96