The Baluch

Baluch Bagface
Iran
19th Century, Wool pile
78.7 x 66 cm (31 x 26 in.)
R. DeWitt Mallary III Collection

This is the face of one half of a double-bag used for animal transport. The endless-repeat format of the design is broken by small motifs, such as comb-amulets, little shrubs, and tiny rectangles, which are introduced into the field and the empty parts of the lattice. A pinkish-red color, almost certainly one of the expensive insect dyes, either lac or cochineal, accentuates the lattice. In places the charcoalgrey- black wool has worn away due to the corrosive action of iron salts used during the dyeing process.

Baluch Bag Face