Antique Belutsch | 267 x 151 cm | Nr. Z-1202

Geometric antique Belutsch, dark brown with border

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	267 cm x 151 cm (= 4.03 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool (hand-spun, natural dyes) Weft & Warp: wool
knots per m²2	420.000
Pile height	3mm
Year of manufacture	1930
Colour	Dark brown, rust red
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

Belutsch is a rug provenance in the region between Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. Belutsch rugs (also Belutsch, Beloutch, Beluch, Baluch, Belutch, Balouch, Baloutche or Balúchi) are made by semi-nomads or nomads. Originally, Belutsch rugs were knotted exclusively by the Baluch nomads. Today, however, a number of other tribes knot Belutsch rugs as well. The patterns tend to be geometric and the palette stays in shades of red and brown. Mostly small mats and smaller rugs are produced, as the nomads use these themselves and they are easier to transport. This antique Belutsch is a collector's piece. It is around 90 years old, and that alone makes it a truly special piece. Antique rugs like this Belutsch are as sought after as ever and fetch top prices at renowned auction houses.

Pattern

The edge of the rug is framed by a surround (border). The border forms a splendid contrast to the centre.

The abstract, geometric composition is what gives this Belutsch its understated elegance. The pattern flatters the design of the room and never steals attention from the furniture, the decor or the architectural elements. It creates a pleasant atmosphere without dominating the style of the room.

The repeating elements of this Belutsch rug have no particular centre. The recurring repeat pattern feels calming without ever being dull. Rugs with a repeat pattern are also described as all-over designs.

The background of this Belutsch is dark brown. The border is worked in dark brown and rust red.

Condition

This Belutsch has a story to tell. It was hand-knotted around 1930. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good, though only partly restored, condition. The pile is worn in places. Parts of the border are missing along one side. The fringes could do with a repair. We haven't fully restored this Belutsch because we feel it has a special presence exactly as it is. If you'd like us to, we'll gladly carry on restoring it for you. We can bring almost any rug back to near-perfect condition.

Material

The technique used to produce the materials for the pile of this Belutsch is over 200 years old. The wool was dyed with natural dyes and spun by hand. Dyeing with natural or plant-based dyes is more complicated, more expensive and more time-consuming than dyeing with chemical colours. For a luminous red, for example, you need around one kilo of ground madder root as dyestuff per kilo of wool. For a strong yellow that isn't too pale, you even need two kilograms of the dyestuff weld per kilo of wool. Spinning the wool is labour-intensive and time-consuming too. On top of that, fewer and fewer people still know how to spin wool by hand.

But the effort is worth it: dyeing with natural colours lets the high-quality wool keep its natural lanolin content. Wool that is naturally dyed and hand-spun creates fascinating, shifting patterns. The charm of hand-spun wool, with its slight irregularities and natural shades, comes into its own as a contrast in modern interiors, but equally in rooms furnished in a more traditional or country-house style. The foundation (weft and warp threads) of this Belutsch is made of new wool.