The Oriental Collection - Catalog - Page 47
REZAS NOMADIC RUGS
Balutch
The Baloch people are a nomadic group spread across a vast area in eastern Iran
and constitute a significant part of the population in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Although Balochistan is situated partly in Pakistan and partly in the south-eastern
Iranian province of Sistan, Balutch rugs are not produced in Balochistan but in the
north-eastern Khorasan province, where about 12 tribes knot rugs. The rugs are
sold in Mashad, Turbat-e-Haidari, Naishapur Birjand, and Zabul.
Like all nomad rugs, the Balutch rugs are small,simple and robust with most of
them being prayer rug sized. Prayer rugs are actually very common. The arches
are always geometrical, as if two rectangles have had the corners cut off one end.
Kurdish and Turkmen tribes, whose territories border the area, influence other
patterns. Sometimes, the patterns also consist of birds and people. The most
common colours are deep red, dark blue, and white. The rugs are usually 100%
wool. The knot density ranges from 80,000 – 150,000 knots per sqm and often
brocade Kelims are embroidered at one end.
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