Curved edge

[Phil Smythe Member Find all posts View Profile Close Phil Smythe]

Gents,

Pardon my ignorance, but what caused the curvature in the ‘top’ of this rug? (Actually, that edge is the 'bottom', i.e. where the weaver started weaving from.)

I have been told it was from being used as a storage bag on the side of tent / animal and being stuffed full it just stretched out over time. But really?

I have seen another ‘bag’ face curved like this and on close inspection there was no evidence of ‘stretching’, all the knotting on back looked same so to speak, i.e. not stretched / separated more on the curved edge than the other. So were they just made like that? Or?

Thanks for any help.

Phil

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

Hi Phil

The usual explanation, that it was stretched by the weight or volume in it, makes sense to me. If you saw a profile shot of me you'd see that my belt has pretty much the same shape as the top of that bag.

Steve Price

[Egbert Vennema Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Egbert Vennema]

Hi, to all.

Do you have a pic of it s back ? It might be visible, ( " that it was stretched by the weight or volume in it") . Regards. Egbert.

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

It looks legit to me. I have read that at times weavers would offset the top area (bottom on loom) to compensate for this stretching. It’s hard to tell though if this is hanging or laying flat from the picture. I would assume laying flat would look less pronounced.

[Phil Smythe Member Find all posts View Profile Close Phil Smythe]

Thanks for the input gents. So the simplest answer seems correct after all.

Now to answer in order of appearance.
Very funny Steve!

I have no photo of the back Egbert.

I'm told the photo was taken laying flat on floor Joe.

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

Hi Phil,

Sorry, late to the game, but here's another example (a piece already sold, from the Cotswald Rugs site). This effect is seen too frequently to be called rare (particularly with the Turkman ensi), but it's certainly not a common feature. I agree that loading is a component, maybe, while wet, but I have to wonder about warp tensions while on the loom as well. Especially, on long narrow pieces such as these.

Regards
Chuck