Carpet, Pakistan, ca.1880

Carpet (called a Satrangi); flatweave (weft-faced plainweave with reciprocating weft-float patterning); Baluch, said to be from Dera Ghazi Khan, c.1880

WARP: white wool; Z2S; 12 threads to the inch (48 per dm)

WEFT: wool and cotton; 7 colours: red, dark orange, yellow, green, blue, brown, white (cotton); the woollen threads are Z-spun, unplied, 2 parallel threads; the cotton threads are Z-spun, unplied, 6 parallel threads; 36 wefts per inch (140 per dm).

SIDE FINISH: returned weft

END FINISH: one row of weft-twining with red wool then white warp ends cut, knotted and turned back; held in place by groups of large wool tassels decorated with cowrie shells. There is one row of cowrie shells before the tassels.

DESIGN: Field: red ground with bands of pattern alternating with a narrow stripe of green, yellow/orange, blue; all continuing from edge to edge.
(1) 9 compartments with corroded brown ground with a red cross within a white stepped and hooked diamond separated by a row of small linked diamonds with a upper and lower border of a reciprocal, angular running-dog pattern facing the centre.
(2) white half diamonds facing the centre except for the outermost which face outwards.
(3) alternating white and red squares with a brown diagonal bar crossed by a brown 'S' motif.
(4) 10 small red diamonds with dark blue pairs of horns on four sides on a white cross surrounded by a dark blue band bearing red triangles outlined in white.
(5) as (3)
(6) six-sided motif containing a central diamond with small triangles above and below.
(7) brown ground with small orange diamonds bracketed by white separated by a row of
diamond as in (1)
(8) as (6)
(9) as (3)
(10) as (4)
(11) as (3)
(12) as (2)
(13) as (1)
Borders from lower edge:
(1) wide band of narrow red and blue stripes, one wider in dark blue bearing red alternating with white X= motifs.
(2) undecorated red bounded by dark blue and white small squares
(3) triangular pennant motifs outlined in white, suspended from two narrow white stripes and facing the sides.*
(4) red ground with white stepped cross with red and blue centre(5) as (3) but upwards.
At the upper end the borders are the same but in reverse order.
Inner Side border: a row of small, elaborate geometric motifs, bordered on both sides by the stripes and triangular pennants of border(3)*.
Outer side border: a wider area but with similar motifs to the inner border.


Catalogue Date: 6.5.98

Satrangi of the type made in Sind, Pakistan

According to the Museum's records, this carpet is called a Satrangi; it is catalogued as Baluch and is said to be from Dera Ghazi Khan. Although tapestry-weave (kelim) and weft-wrapping (soumak) are the most common methods of making non-pile carpets, many different weaving techniques can used. The fine lines of these patterns would have grown very slowly. The lower edge has been turned under and is held in place by groups of large wool tassels decorated with cowrie shells. There is one row of cowrie shells attached to the carpet above the tassels.

2466(IS)-1883