An early Timuri, Baluch prayer rug. Ca. 19th century. a finely woven blue ground prayer of exceedingly rare type. The wool quality along with very well saturated dyes and elaborately detailed design makes this a very beautiful and desirable rug for any Baluch collection. The detail of the field motif shows a row of pale blue cotton knots, seen only in early persian and surrounding region's earliest tribal weavings. The hand panels along with the design above, with a row of connected rosettes puts this prayer rug in a certain group of very specific prayer rugs. Please also note the elaborately done flat woven brocaded end panels. The top flat woven panel is familiar from other rugs while the elaborate bottom skirt in flat woven design is unfamiliar and possibly unique to this very elegant prayer rug. The zoomorphic design of the bottom skirt is very intelligently drawn and demonstrates the weaver's command of this specific design's understanding. The rug has been superficially washed, will improve dramatically by having it Newmanised. The condition is obvious from the photos, its been stabilized with dark brown thread along the ends and sides. No other repair. The pile is low in the field from use it was intended for. The hand panels, mihrab and the borders along with parts of the field are in excellent condition. This prayer rug has an oily handkerchief like handle, very pliable and soft wool. i have owned more than half a dozen of these very beautiful and desirable weavings, including the famous world record price setting prayer rug sold at Skinners in Boston. i am very familiar with these weavings and can confidently attest to the highly sophisticated small group of weavings this prayer belongs to. 3' x 3'11"