Location of Manufacture: A nomadic tribe that inhabit an area spanning North East Persia.

General Description: There are basically two kinds of Baluchi rugs, those marketed in the Iranian town of Meshed and known as Meshed-Baluchi, and those marketed through Afghanistan, in particular the town of Herat. Nowadays there is a modern Baluchi which is shipped to world markets through the port of Karachi in Pakistan.

Many Baluchi rugs are prayer mats, but other types are also made. Colours are rich with red and blue predominating and are somewhat similar to Afghans. White is also a feature, and designs are formal. There are numerous patterns which differ from rug to rug. In prayer rugs a ‘tree of life’ often occupies the mihrab. Many of the designs are not indigenous but have been borrowed from other centres in Persia and the Caucasus. They nevertheless have the typical formality of form found on all Baluchi rugs. Amongst these motifs may be mentioned the Bokhara gul. The borders are formed by narrow bands, one of which is wider than the next and is the same colour as the main ground. Designs are geometric.

Colour is most distinctive in Baluchi rugs- nearly all follow the same colour scheme, the exception being when a natural camel beige is used.

Specification: Loom - Horizontal. Warp - wool. Weft - Wool. Pile - good quality wool but not too deep,(sometimes mixed with cotton.) Knot - Persian, from about 50 - 100 knots per square inch.