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Cross cultural currents have, as with Plate
#27, affected the composition of this bagface, given that the
“endless knot” rosette is well recognized as a shield decoration
used by Mongol horsemen, and that the background design of repeat
small boteh has Indian origins. The concept of layering these two
dissimilar designs is unusual and effective, and the use of boteh
either as a background or to form designs is not particularly
common. A
good example of small boteh used to form a larger design was
exhibited at ICOC "Textiles of the Zagros" exhibition in Washington,
D.C. in April, 2003.1
The use of a “black/white” combination that contrasts with
“red/green” is a well known technique for Middle Eastern weavers.
The technique is reflected here by the very dark blue and ivory
central rosette (black/white element) against the repeated light
blue and yellow boteh (green element) on the red field. This artful
color combination helps give the piece its visual tension.
This piece, likely one of a pair that were part of a small khorjin,
is the product of 19th century nomads in Kirman province, during a
period when tribal power in Iran was much greater than today.
RET
1) Eiland, M., (ed.), A World Of Oriental
Carpets & Textiles, Washington, D.C., 2003, figure 45 |
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