Bakhshaish carpet

Bakhshaish weaving is renowned for transforming design types originating in more formal Persian urban weaving by translating them using a less structured freer Northwest Persian village aesthetic. This playful but sophisticated Bakhshaish over-sized carpet draws a central medallion within a stepped cartouche-shaped madder-red ground surrounded by modulated green-blue implied corner pieces. The central medallion pairs dark indigo with ivory creating an initial layer of contrasts which is then mirrored by the interplay of the red field with the modulated aquatic blues of the corners and border. While the red area is empty, a network of colorful stylized foliage emanates throughout the corners. The ‘abrash’ or modulation of color within both these corners and the main border is pronounced, balanced, and dynamic at times intersecting and matching each other but more often creating distinct contrast using differing hues of related colors. The result is a bold but pleasing and masterfully balanced composition.