Origin/Age/ID of Blue "Baloch" Herat Rug?

[Andrew Miller Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andrew Miller]

Hi there -- I was wondering if anyone has thoughts on the origin or age of this rug (or anything else about it), which the online seller said was "Baloch" and made in Herat. I'm a total newbie, but I don't recall seeing that many Baloch rugs with quite this shade of rich blue ground or red-blue-green color pattern. Some internet rabbit holes suggested a Timuri weaver/workshop mislabeled as "Baloch," but that's about as far as I got. (I know the vase motif is of Persian origin and has been reinterpreted by Afghan weavers, though the Timuri vase rugs I've seen have a much more abstracted vase motif). Moreover, the seller could only say it was from "before 2000" but didn't know more about the age. Any thoughts on origin and/or age or anything else would it much appreciated!


Thanks all!
Andrew

[Chuck Wagner Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Chuck Wagner]

Hi Andrew,

I'd say that one is 1960's to 1980's. The palette and motifs are oriented toward a western taste and I'm sure it was woven for the commercial market. As a result, a tribal attribution is not practical. The Herat area had a lot of refugees settle there after the Rooskies came to visit and any of them could have sought employment with a local atelier. In addition, proximity to Iran leaves lots of potential for design adoption or adaptation; this one has an Afshar feel to it, to me.

Regards
Chuck

[Guest Close Guest]

Thank you! This is so interesting and helpful. I imagine the rugs from that period would bear the imprint of all that ferment. Do you have any sense from the pictures if the dyes are likely to be vegetable dyes or synthetic or a mix?

Thanks again,
Andrew

[Joe Lawrence Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe Lawrence]

Since it’s coming from Pakistan, run a bleed test on it as it may be a copy. I do like the colors! Nothing in this piece suggests it’s a Baluchi to me at least.

[Steve Price Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Steve Price]

Thank you! This is so interesting and helpful. I imagine the rugs from that period would bear the imprint of all that ferment. Do you have any sense from the pictures if the dyes are likely to be vegetable dyes or synthetic or a mix?

Thanks again,
Andrew

Hi Andrew

The likelihood that there are any natural dyes in a rug woven in the second half of the 20th century is nearly zero. The exception is products of the Dobag project, but they are well documented and this isn't one of them.

Steve Price

[Andrew Miller Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andrew Miller]

Thanks all! I appreciate your insights very much (and have learned a great deal from perusing the forum). I may post one or two more rugs in the coming days to get your thoughts.

-Andrew