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The three medallion design is a classic one seen in many South Persian rugs.
The medallions are frequently connected and in a 'step' formulation.
This rug was woven by one of the tribes within the Khamseh Confederacy.
The unadorned arms extending from the medallion are traditionally construed as an Arab-Khamseh marker.
The field with secondary motifs of birds, animals, human figures and such, is another Khamseh feature.
This rug, however, lacks the formality and strict symmetry of the conventional Khamseh 'bird' rug.
Rather, there is a spontaneous improvisational approach to motif design and distribution that is suggestive of both a nomadic source and considerable age.
In Khamseh rugs the 'cane pattern' consisting of vertical stripes is often used as a background in the field.
In an unusual and visually effective adaptation, this weaver used the 'cane pattern' in the spandrels.
At one time, rugs with these design features were attributed specifically to Arab-Khamseh weavers.
Today, the specific designation of 'Arab' is more tentative.
The colors in this rug are from all natural dyes and are deeply saturated in the Khamseh tradition.
Condition: The condition of this rug is nearly perfect. The pile is full with no areas of wear or damage. There are isolated areas of high quality repair. The flat woven ends are reduced slightly. |
