There is also a large view of the Bijar Poshti (opens jpeg in same browser window) (1.17 MB).
The simple striped field shows a regular repeat sequence—but not completely regular —of 12 stripes utilising about 7-9 colours (difficult to tell because in some stripes there are colour changes on the way up). Each stripe is decorated with rows of tiny botehs and framed by 3-knot-wide separating lines in varying colours. The acession is sligthly uneven, lending the bundles of stripes a wavy, pleasingly irregular air.
The wide border ground colour progresses from a dark blue indigo through shades of a dark blue-green, to a deep marron shade at the top end. The dark tones and the abrash beautifully emphasise the floating large rosettes alternating with another shield-like element that bears a central rosette atop a cross-shaped trellis sprouting buds of blossoms to come. The shield form is itself adorned outside its rounded corners by four small flowers in profile.
The shield form appears at times wider, at times narrower around the main border. In the centre of the horizontal borders, two shield forms come close to frame a space not wide enough for a rosette; here, tender blossom-studded branches embrace a much smaller rosette, the one at the bottom more delicate. This beautiful space is what make the whole piece breathe; its role is heightened by the fact that these rosettes mark the exact vertical axis of the mirrored design.
Looking at the weave, this is a poshti (pudhti) from the Bijar area.
The palette is not without obvious synthetic dyes (witness the loud pink), but in works beautifully. All dyes are stable, no bleeding or tip-fading.
The size is 2'5" x 4'1" (72 x 126 cm). It is interesting to note that the peace is much wider than long, taking the warp direction for sn indication of length. Several of these might have been woven together, one atop the other on the same loom.
Close-cropped pile. Highly twisted thin ivory cotton warps, the nature of the weft I cannot establish without pulling one out, which I am reluctant to do. The thin sinuous warp looks like tan wool, the fat straight warp is hidden. The weave is deeply depressed as is typical for the Bijar weave. A finely woven rug: the knot count is roughly v.51/10 x h.51/10 knots = 2601 kots per dm2.
Good condition; some warps are visible at the front, a common feature with close-cropped Bijars showing some wear. No signs of structural weakness yet. Sides probably not original, rewrapped at some time. The ends are well secured. The piece has ben professionally washed.