BAKSHAISH
Northwest Persian (SOLD)

(Museum-Quality) ("Best-of-its-Type Sold in 2020”) (Museum-Level) The earliest Bakshaish we have handled, this exciting, landmark piece features a never-seen-before aesthetic. In the field, an overall pattern of repeating compartments is held together by ribbons in the mouths of two-headed dragons at the top of each unit. The windows of the loosely woven “lattice” hold similar, individually drawn elements that remain in approximately the same order. Directly under the dragons are pair of unidentifiable yet absolutely mesmerizing coral-hued motifs. The other characters rendered in striking simplicity are blossoms with stems laying on their sides, possibly a pair of teapots, and rounded hexagons. None of these features have likenesses in 19th century Bakshaishs. Within the archaic wide main border design, the ancient Cloudband motif reinvents itself in a great variety of nuances, sheltering intensely inventive blossoms both grand and diminutive. Learn About This Rug Type