Afshar rug: Colorful diagonal rows of 'boteh' paisleys are formed from wispy flowering plants against the saturated ochre ground of this Afshar rug. The 'boteh' forms are drawn freely, more as tracery, integrating much of the field. Tanavoli speculates that the 'boteh' variant here is more zoomorphic than vegetal and integrates specifically "dragon and phoenix" imagery. As in many cases with abstract forms found in weaving, different viewers may see things differently. a square-shaped Afshar rug such as this is sometimes designated as a 'masnad' and may have been used as a large seating square.
size= 3' 7" x 4' 1" , Inv# 17392

Published: Parviz Tanavoli, 'Afshar: Tribal Weavers from Southeast Iran' (Tehran: matn, 20100, pg. 106, pl. 41. 2. Hali #57, June, 1991, pg. 100.
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John Corwin.