A Qashqa'i Shekarlu Rug, South Persia, Circa 1880 “The main field contains randomly organised palmettes, endless knot rosettes

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A QASHQA'I SHEKARLU RUG, SOUTH PERSIA, CIRCA 1880 “The main field contains randomly organised palmettes, endless knot rosettes, slanting latched hook combs and a variety of totemic emblems. All of these elements are combined with small rosette and S fillers and are displayed on a rich red ground. There is the usual Shekarlu border with hooked octagonal shapes on an undyed wool background and a minor border is filled with S motifs framed within linked cartouches. Knots are asymmetric, open to the right, with some symmetrical as well. Warps are in undyed wool, wefts red with 2-5 shoots, some wefts are blue. The ends are short (reduced?) in red-dyed kelim weft-faced plain weave. Sides are mainly original, overcast and twined in blue and red.” (Benjamin, op.cit., LITERATURE: Sotheby’s, European and Oriental Rugs and Carpets, sales catalogue, London 24th April, 1996, set 64, illustrated on page 70 3rd ed., 2004, pp. 34-35 Hali, issue 174, page 128, 2012 “This is a bizarre rug, very attractive, with brilliant colours. Its soft rather loose weave and long-pile texture may indicate a Luri connection. This rug was featured as a ‘LAST PAGE’ item in Hali, 174 under the heading ‘A WILD SHEKARLU RUG’! In the commentary the editor points out the unusual nature of the design. There is a closely-related example published in Woven Gardens (Black, D. and Loveless, C., plate 4, Woven Gardens. Nomad and Village rugs of the Fars province of Southern Persia, David Black Oriental Carpets, London, 1979).” (Benjamin, op.cit., p. 34) Condition Report: Generally good pile, thick, glossy wool, 4-5mm depth, with areas of lower pile in the abrashed band at the upper end of the field and minor amounts of moth damage in bottom corners (see photographs). Some wear in white borders in upper half of field with knot bars visible. Small reweave in top left hand corner 10 by 7cm max, irregularly shaped, barely visible. Ends with approx 12mm of red plain weave and teased warp fringing. Generally in good sound condition and ready to use. Robust weave and very happy range of colours.