Antique Khorasan area Baluch rug with large birds on a natural camel hair field. All dyes in the rug are natural with a very saturated deep aubergine is that quite nice. This rug belongs to the same sub-group as one published in Herrmann 3, plate 55 - an image of which is included in this post. The Herrmann example is quite a bit older than this one. It might be the oldest example known. i sold the rug to Eberhart many years ago and know it well. Rugs like this are often considered presentation type rugs - made as special piled sofreh that imitate the more typical flat-woven versions. Many of these bird rugs are finely woven and often found in quite good condition, they sometimes contain synthetic dyed silk highlights. This rug belongs to a group that is relatively coarsely woven by comparison and could be considered to belong to a sub-group. The rug is dated c.1919 a.d. (1338 Hijri). It is now officially more than a 100 years old. It has an inscription which i have not had translated beyond the word, "Mobarak", which points to it being a presentation piece. Size: 44 x 55 inches. Please inquire directly to jameswblackmon@gmail.com as some inquiries are not reaching me via the Rugrabbit link.