Sauj Bulagh Runner

Against a deep indigo, almost black ground rows of ‘boteh’ paisleys are traced with lighter shades of green and violet across the field of this Northwest Persian runner. These open motifs are in turn made up from clusters of smaller flowers that both glisten against and are fully enveloped by the dark ground. The diagonally striped red and white central border along with the two guard borders flanking it made up of linked carnations are types found more frequently in weavings from a bit further north in the neighboring region of the Caucasus. Interestingly, a Persian inscription reads, ‘amal-i Rekhaz’ or ‘the work of Rekhaz’. This name is most likely Armenian and may explain the distinctly Caucasian influence appearing in this piece.