Image Carpets

Antique Bakshaish #160506

Heriz, Bakshaish Type

Heriz District, Azerbaijan Province, Northwest Persia

The ground color of this most decorative carpet is subtly abrashed from powder blue to beige to pale yellow, matched by the plain outer border. The large scale two dimensional field pattern alternates double rows of  giant palmettes with single rows of stylised  geometric flowers  and rosettes. Angular vines connect the various elements, Camel and rust are the  important detail tones. The madder red border employs a simple version of the in and out turtle palmette pattern with intervening rosettes and bent leaves. The original selvage color marches the plain outer strip. The minor figured borders are classic for the Heriz area.

The foundation is all cotton with the exception of a few, small weft passages in dark brown wool.  The knotting is symmetric. The colors are softened with age, but not artificially subdued.  The pale blue colour derives from a re-use of the indigo dye bath, thus saving an expensive dyestuff and producing an otherwise tricky tone.  The effect is striking and the results unplanned, but most desirable.

This nearly square a informal antique Persian carpet is a most attractive  foundation for any style of furnishings, from traditional to contemporary.