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The
extremely subtle coloration of this old piece is difficult to convey
in a photograph. Its palette is quite surprising; rarely does one
see blue-green, violet, burnt-orange, and navy blue appearing in
such harmony. Notice too that there is not a single knot of white
in the pile. The judicious spacing of the octagons gives them the
appearance of floating against their tan background. Notice that
the spacing between them varies, as it also does at top and bottom,
suggesting motion, and that each of the ten octagons is differently
colored; (only the top and bottom ones are the same). Little
touches like these suggest the work of a master weaver. While the
octagonal design element makes frequent appearances in the Baluch
lexicon, its presentation as a free-floating motif is very unusual.
Judging from the rows of small brown motifs pointing inward from the
border, the piece may have been intended as a sofreh or
eating rug.
Publication: Oriental Rugs
from Atlantic Collections, pl. 317. (Printed in error upside down
and backward.)
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