Balisht Baluch Rugs

Antique Baluch Balisht & Pushti Rugs

Closely related to Baluch Rugs a balisht was originally a grain or storage bag. A secondary use was as a cushion. Over time the use as a cushion supercedes the original. Balisht seems to be a Persian word because in Afghanistan the backs are more often called Pushti. Afghan Pushtis have a heavier handle than Persian/Iranian balishts.

Examples:

Baluch Balisht circa 1900

3 ft. 6 in. x 2 ft.1 in.

Baluchi Balisht, Khorasan, Northeast Persia, about 1900.


Baluch Balisht

Size: 97 cm x 84 cm

Baluch Balisht

Region: West Asia, Persia, Northeast Persia, Baluch

Type: Rugs and Carpets, Bags and Trappings, Balisht

Period: First quarter 20th century


Baluch Balisht, first quarter 20th century

Measurements: approx. 92 x 51 cm

Country of origin: Northeast Persia, first half 20th century


Baluch Balisht, circa 1880-1910

Size: Pile end: 20″ x 34″ Back: 20″ x 30″

Description: Blue diamond lattice displayed on a rich, cherry-red field. The diamond motifs within each lattice consists of a variety of deeply saturated colors associated with Seistan weaving, indigo blue, rich green, reddish-orange, and oxidized light brown. The back of the bag, in plain weave, is original.

Condition: Damage, primarily to the sides, is visible in the pictures. Areas of the main border and most of the bag front is in full pile.

Structure Warps: Wool, undyed light brown.

Two strands, Z-spun, S-plied.

Wefts: Wool. Dark brown. Two strands. Two-three shoots.

Knots: Asymmetrical with no warp displacement.

Sides: Damaged

Ends: Damages


Bahlul Baluchi Rug, 19th century



The interlocking latchhooks pattern with the use of green, symmetric knots as well as the stripes & dice main border points to an atribution of Bahlul.

Antique 19th century Baluch Rug

Size: 5 ft. 3 in. x 2 ft. 10 in.

Condition: Good


Baluchi balisht Grain Bag, Khorasan, circa 1930-1950 




4 ft. x 2 ft. 5 in.

Baluchi Balisht Grain Bag, Khorasan, Northeast Persia, about 1930-1950


Baluchi Balisht, Northwest Afghanistan, circa 1900 

Size: 91 cm x 39 cm

Description: BALUCH BALISHT

Baluch Balisht, Central Asia, Northwest Afghanistan, circa 1900.


Baluch Balischt, fourth quarter 19th century

2 ft. 10 in. x 1 ft. 10 in.

Baluch Balischt, Northeast Persia, fourth quarter 19th century. Slight moth damage.


The Cole Baluch Balisht, Sistan, Southeast Persia, 19th century

1 ft. 9 in. x 2 ft. 10 in.

Baluch Balisht, Sistan, Southeast Persia, 19th century.

This ballisht incorporates the ashik and an element more commonly associated with Dokhtor-i-Qazi weavings into the field design. The colors are saturated with a startling orange/red, aubergine, and green on a dark blue ground. In full pile with complete ends, these pieces are made for dowry and many of them as they come out of Asia exhibit little wear as they were apparently used sparingly or not at all.


Baluch Balisht, Southeast Persia, 19th century

1 ft. 7 in. x 2 ft. 6 in.

Baluch Balisht, Southeast Persia, 19th century.

A colorful balisht of considerable age as well as beauty. The field pattern consists of an element associated with the ‘Doktor-i-Qazi’ rugs from Khorassan and west Afganistan, but handled in a distinctly different manner. The piece is colorfully elaborated with interesting trianglular elements protruding into the field from the border. The colors are all extremely saturated.

The condition is good, though there is some wear along the edges and ends (though the original selvedges are still intact as well as vestiges of the original kilim ends), while the the bulk of the field is virtually full pile. Note the eccentric wefting.


Baluch Balisht, Southeast Persia, late 19th century

1 ft. 5 in. x 2 ft. 6 in.

Baluch Balisht of the Sistan/Zabol Area

Baluch Balisht, Southeast Persia, late 19th century.

A colorful balisht with a relatively fine weave. An additional feature is an aberration of design at the bottom of the weaving, lower right corner.

The border is apparently extended with three animals depicted, each with something mounted on their backs, symbolized by a talismanic cross. The condition of this piece is immaculate and the colors are wonderful, all very saturated and derived from natural dyes.


Camel Ground Baluch Balisht, Southeast Persia, 19th century

1 ft. 7 in. x 2 ft. 6 in.

Baluch Balisht of the Sistan Area

Baluch Balisht, Southeast Persia, 19th century

A complete Baluch balisht, with the original flat woven back intact. Camel ground weavings from this area of southeast Persia are found less often than those without. The “tree of life” motif is present here on the camel ground, with beautiful multi colored serrated leaves fanning out from the colored barber pole tree trunk. The condition is excellent and the colours are all derived from natural dyes. There is some glare of light off the pile in the lower right corner of this balisht which accounts for the appearance of a lighter area.


Baluch Balischt, late 19th century

2 ft. 4 in. x 1 ft. 7 in.

Baluch Balisht of the Sistan/Zabol Area

Baluch Balischt, Northeast Persia, late 19th century. Slight moth damage.


Baluch Balischt, late 19th century

2 ft. 8 in. x 1 ft. 4 in.

Baluch Balisht of the Sistan/Zabol Area

Baluch Balischt, Northeast Persia, late 19th century.


Large Baluch Bag/Pillow

Chahar Aymaq Pushti Bag/Pillow

2 ft. x 3 ft. 10 in.

These bags make wonderful pillows. In fact in Afghanistan that is what they often how they used them. The wool is excellent and the pile feels great to touch. Originally bags like this were used as grain bags or to carry fodder for animals.

In a herding culture, duality of purpose is essential. When you need a cushion to sit against, you use a bag of grain. When the grain is gone, you fill the bag with straw to use it as a cushion. It is only when these people settle that they being to make some bags only to hold grain and some bags only to use cushions.

Structure: Symmetrical knot with floating weft sections. 11 knots per horizontal inch and 10 knots per vertical inch. 110 per square inch (1705 per square decimeter)

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply wool.

Weft: 2 shot red wool with floating sections.

Pile: 2 wool singles.

Ends: Overlapped plain weave with overcastting (top), 3 inch applied fringe (bottom).

Selvages: Black wool overcast joined by black goat plait stitch.

Handle: Soft, pliable, pile is 1/8 inch high

Further Notes: Very good condition, some wear in joins. Great wool, good color, and this bag will wear like iron. It has some age but is still in very good condition. A few of the tassels are missing.


Two Baluchi balishti (grain bags), circa 1900

Origin: Khorasan, north east Persia

Size: 3 ft. 10 in. x 2 ft. 1 in. and 3 ft. 7 in. x 1 ft. 11 in.

Both bags are complete with striped plain weave and weft-float brocade backs, now stuffed as cushions.


Antique Camel Baluch Balisht

The piece is camel ground with a tree of life. The reds are spectacular as is the green. The rug dates to the late 19th century. All the dyes look natural. It is a pile weaving from Iran. It’s handmade and in average condition.

Size: 1 ft. 10 in. by 2 foot 10 inch.

Structure: An asymmetrical knot is open to the left. There are 7 knots per horizontal inch and 9 knots per vertical inch.

Color: Umber, plum, raspberry, amber, royal blue, sienna, ivory.

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply wool.

Weft: 2 shots moss green wool.

Pile: 2 wool singles.

Ends: Stabilized.

Selvages: Joined by plait stitch, black goat.

Handle: Soft, medium, pliable

Further Notes: Average condition, back of bag has several holes from wear, front has 9 holes no larger than 2 inches, wear to pile in places, wear to joins and ends.