This exceptional early Baluch prayer rug represents a rare surviving example from the first half of the 19th century, woven in the borderlands of Northeast Persia and Western Afghanistan. The rug’s focal point is its highly unusual comb or hand of Fatima motifs in the upper spandrels—widely interpreted as protective symbols—flanking a central octagonal medallion in the prayer field’s mihrab.
The field is filled with serrated tree or palm motifs rendered in a grid-like arrangement, a powerful expression of stylized flora perhaps meant to reference paradise gardens. Subtle abrash, or color variation, runs through the camel and deep indigo grounds, offering evidence of hand-dyed, small-batch wool. A crisp reciprocal trefoil border encloses the composition, complemented by minor guards with classic Baluch meander forms.
Rugs of this age and condition are increasingly scarce, especially those preserving this level of graphic clarity and symbolic significance. From the private collection of a prominent antique rug dealer in Amherst, Massachusetts, this piece would make a significant addition to any serious collection of tribal textiles.
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