Antique Prayer-Rug, Timuri Tribes, Borderlands of Eastern ...

Item Ref
BM/S14

The natural un-dyed camel-hair field contains five very powerful symbols in the centre, rising upwards to the mihrab and used again in the hand-panels. Made by Timuri tribes during the last quarter of the nineteenth century, these symbols can also be found in their near neighbours, the Turkmen. This beautiful prayer-rug (namazlyk) is in superb original condition, retaining its full kilim chevron skirts and something I've never come across before, two tassels hanging from the lower left and right corners. I suspect this was a very special little rug, made for someone of importance within the tribe, and to find a rug of this age in this condition, is remarkable.
Size: 1.37m x 0.87m (4' 6" x 2' 10").
SOLD

Antique Balisht (pillow bag-face), Timuri Yaqoub-Khani Tribe, ...

Item Ref
BM/ZM

I acquired this very rare and finely knotted Timuri pillow-bag-face (balisht) around 1978 on my return from Iran and apart from it being in my personal collection for many years and then sold to a private collection several years ago for a short period, it has now been returned to me! This beautiful bag-face with its 'tree-of-life' on a camel-hair background represents, to these nomads, the 3-level universe where the roots of the tree are in the underworld, the trunk is in the earthly world and the branches are in the realms of the spirit. Although sadly missing its flat-woven back and some border loss top and bottom, this is probably the finest balisht I've ever come across. Highly collectable and illustrated in my book 'Tribal Rugs - Treasures of the Black Tent' it was made by the Yaqoub-Khani tribe around the third quarter 19th century.
Size: 91cm x 43cm (3' 0" x 1' 5")
SOLD

Antique Prayer-Rug, Timuri Tribes, Western Afghanistan

Item Ref
BM666

A beautiful small prayer-rug of the Timuri tribes of western Afghanistan from around the mid 19th century. The rug is in good condition overall but requires some sides and ends restoration - relatively minor work. The small square size can indicate an early age thus my feeling that it is an 1850 piece. I love the electric-blue field and the minimal use of ivory. A truly stunning little rug which would make a wonderful wall-hanging!
Size: 1.22m x 0.97m (4' 0" x 3' 2").
SOLD

Antique Baluch Rug, Mahdad Khani Tribe, Khorassan, ...

Item Ref
BM1394

An extremely handsome rug in near-mint condition, made by the Mahdad Khani Baluch tribe in Khorassan Province, north-east Persia circa 1880. The rug has an unusual compartmentalised design of Turkmen-inspired 'kotchak' symbols and is complete with full plain-weave and brocaded skirts each end. A very collectable rug.
Size:2.44m x 1.17m (8' 0" x 3' 10").










SOLD

Timuri Namazlik (Prayer-Rug), Western Afghanistan

Item Ref
BM361

Rugs and carpets made by the Timuri tribes in the 19th century incorporated fabulous glowing indigo-blues and this one is no exception. A wonderful small prayer-rug (namazlik) made around 1870 and in very good condition with its original flatwoven brocaded skirts at each end - a highly desirable feature in the antique rugs and carpets of the Timuri and their near neighbours, the Baluch.
Size: 1.32m x 0.92m (4' 4" x 3' 0").
SOLD

Antique Prayer Rug, Timuri Tribes, Western Afghanistan ...

Item Ref
BM600

This gorgeous little Timuri prayer rug has a fabulous glowing indigo-blue field with an overall 'tree-of-life' design. Made around the last quarter of the 19th century, the rug has soft, silky wool and is in mint condition bar a tiny moth hole which I intend to have repaired.
It will be exhibited at the Olympia Fine Art & Antiques Fair from 6th-16th June 2013
Size: 1.55m x 0.90m (5' 1" x 3' 0").
SOLD

Antique Prayer Rug, Timuri Tribes, Dokhtar-e-Qazi Group, ...

Item Ref
BM984

This lovely 'Dokhtar-e-Qazi' prayer rug was made by Timuri tribes in western Afghanistan around 1860-1870. This rug is not unlike the example illustrated in the second edition of my book 'Tribal Rugs' on page 66. This small group of prayer rugs is generally referred to as 'Dokhtar-e-Qazi' meaning 'daughter of the judge' from a legend that dates back 150 years known as Bahluli-e-Dana. This legend states that around the time of Queen Bilkish of Sabzevar, the daughter of a Timuri Qazi (judge) was wooed by a dervish shaman of the Bahluli tribe. Her father disapproved and attempted to chase him off with threats of death, so the shaman performed all sorts of miracles to impress the qazi and was allowed to marry her. These rugs, woven by the judge's daughter are believed to be the only true 'Dokhtar-e-Qazi rugs - 23 in all! I leave the rest to your imagination!
The rug has evenly-low pile all over in what I would term 'very good' condition for its age.
Size: 1.40m x 1.07m (4' 7" x 3' 6").
SOLD

Antique Prayer-Rug, Timuri Tribes, Western Afghanistan

Item Ref
BM369

This unusual prayer-rug with pointed mihrab - was made by Timuri tribes in western Afghanistan during the last quarter of the 19th century. There are several small areas, particularly in the central 'leaf' pattern, where reweaves were done many years ago and the colour has faded slightly. Having said that, this is an unusual and collectable rug with very good shiny wool and excellent vegetable colours.
Size: 1.32m x 1.00m (4' 4" x 3' 3").
SOLD

Antique Prayer Rug, Timuri Tribes, Western Afghanistan ...

Item Ref
BM505

This charming tiny prayer rug was made by the Dokhtar-e-Ghazi sub tribe of the Timuri in western Afghanistan during the last quarter of the 19th century. The rug is in excellent condition with complete flatwoven skirts at each end and no repairs.
Size: 1.22m x 0.76m (4' 0" x 2' 6").
SOLD

Antique Prayer Rug, Timuri Tribes, Western Afghanistan ...

Item Ref
BM510

This charming tiny prayer rug has recently been found in Afghanistan and brought to me by an Afghan aquaintance. It arrived with a small hole in the centre - could it have been from a bullit! - and which I have since had expertly re-woven. The rug, which was made by Timuri tribes in western Afghanistan during the final years of the 19th century, has a beautiful glowing indigo-blue field comprising a small shrub or tree pattern overall and is in very good condition. It retains its flatwoven skirts at each end.
Size: 1.14m x 0.89m (3' 9" x 2' 11").
SOLD

Antique Timuri Prayer-Rug, West Afghanistan

Item Ref
BM284

An unusual and beautiful little prayer-rug of the Timuri tribes dating to the last quarter of the 19th century with a pale yellow field and tile pattern. In excellent condition with two small areas of expert restoration.
Size: 1.34 x 0.97m (4' 5" x 3' 2").
SOLD

Antique Timuri Carpet, Yaqoub-Khani Tribe, Western Afghanistan ...

Item Ref
BM458

This magnificent carpet was made by the Yaqoub-Khani Timuri tribe at the end of the 19th century - probably around 1900. It recently came out of an old English country home and was well cared for, having originally been in the collection of Dr Jon Thompson. The carpet is in mint condition with minor corrosion to the dark brown colour and a wonderful use of old aubergine colour-dye. Note the many stylised creatures depicted throughout the field.
Size: 3.35m x 1.88m (11' 0" x 6' 3").
SOLD