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The comparison of these two pieces is a study
in extremes; composed and traditional above, colorful and unexpected
below.
The complete khorjin half (8a) is a typical product of the Jaf
Kurds, a group whose historic tribal lands spill over from northern
Iraq into northwestern Iran. What makes it noteworthy, however, is
its striking flatwoven back. These little Jaf Kurd pile weavings
were imported by American carpet dealers in the thousands in the
early 20th century for sale or giveaway to their customers. But
since few consumers had any interest in a bag of such dimensions,
the backs were invariably cut away and discarded. It is therefore
uncommon to find a complete piece today, especially one with a back
panel as attractive as this example.
It is worth mentioning that the back of this bag illustrates that
the Jaf were expert in the techniques of slit-tapestry and brocade,
yet there are very few such flatweaves in public and private
collections.
The colorful fragment (8b), probably a chuval face although possibly
the face of a yastik (pillow), is quite another story. Although it
retains the signature hooked diamond motif of this Kurdish group,
nothing else about it is typical or ordinary. Its bright red wefts
are not characteristic of Jaf weavings. Its main border, a motif not
previously seen on Jaf Kurd weavings, is most likely a simplified
country version of the so-called Kufic design commonly seen on
Perepedil rugs and similar types from the eastern Azerbaijan, a
motif of ancient origin thought to stem from Arabic script. Note
that at the bottom of the red field, the weaver changed her mind
after knotting several rows and shifted the format. What appears to
be a cut-and-stitched seam where the design changes is instead
actually a row of dark brown knots delineating the change. It is
curious that the weaver, while clearly rendering the border with
skill, allowed a certain chaos to pervade the diamond field,
suggesting that she was either not familiar with the motif or was
simply given to loose interpretation and the fulfillment of
self-expression. MH 8a - Published: Stone,
P., The Oriental Rug Lexicon, 1997, p. 108; and Oriental Rug Review, Vol 9, No. 5, Jun/Jul 1989, p. 9. |
