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We frequently find rows
of either twining or soumak wrapping at the ends of our village and
nomad rugs. These constructions are not only decorative, they help to combine or separate
warps, and to space them evenly across the loom. These details are often used along with
warp loops or heading cords.
On the Bijar saddle cover below we see another structure-- looped wrapping. It is
indeed unusual. At a glance it appears so much like ordinary soumak, that I suspect we
have overlooked examples. I suggest that when we examine NW Persian rugs we look
closely to see just where, and on what kinds of pieces, this detail appears.
In textile terminology, "loop" has a specific generic meaning: the yarn locks by
crossing itself. Although the term has been used inaccurately in descriptions of
various structures, in this case it applies. The yarn simultaneously wraps and
locks, making a secure foundation against which to begin packing wefts.
The tiny detail below was nearly impossible to capture in a scan; the small loops behind
and slightly above the large diagonal spans are hardly visible. By probing with a
needle, however, the structure is easy to identify.
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Looped wrapping
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Ordinary soumak wrapping
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Bijar Saddle Cover
36" x 41" (91.5 cm. x 104 cm.). Late 19th century.
STRUCTURE: Symmetrical knots; H: 12, V: 12, 144 per square
inch. (H: 47/dm, V: 47/dm, 2209 per square dm). Discontinuous wefts and weft
inlays. Complete warp depression.
YARN SPIN: Z.
WARP: 2-ply ivory/brown wool.
WEFT: Tan wool singles, sometimes 2 tan wool singles; 2 picks.
PILE: 1 or 2 wool singles; 3 used occasionally.
SELVAGES: Not original.
UPPER END FINISH: Plain weave.
LOWER END FINISH: Plain weave; looped wrapping with 2
pink wool singles; plain heading cord.
[AA-70. Allan Arthur] |
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The looped wrapping in this saddle cover is directly above a plain heading
cord. Details like this, with localized use, may have great diagnostic value if
more examples are found. (Front)
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Bijar Knotted Pile Rug. Northwestern
Iran
3'6" x 7'3" (165 cm x 343 cm)
STRUCTURE: Symmetrical knots, H: 9, V: 8, 72 per square inch (H: 34/dm, V: 32/dm,
1088 per square dm). Complete warp depression.
YARN SPIN: Z.
WARP: 2-ply ivory wool.
WEFTS: Heavy 2-ply taut ivory wool alternates with 2 sinuous peach wool singles.
SELVAGES: 1 warp pair, overcast with red wool singles. The overcasting interlocks
with each taut weft.
LOWER END FINISH: A wrapped heading cord is followed by
a row of 4/2 soumak; then a row of looped wrapping across half the rug, with a row of 4/2
soumak on the other half. Next come countered rows of 4-span black and white
twining, and two more rows of 4/2 soumak. There are no wefts in the end band, merely
one heavy plain-weave pick before the knotting begins. (See the Heading Cord
page for a back view.)
[AA-1005. Allan Arthur] |
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The row of red wrapping
just under the black and white countered twining is looped wrapping.
Unfortunately, it is even more difficult to see the structure in the photo here than on
the saddle cover above. This specialized structure only extends across half of the
rug. Two people must have been at work here...one who was familiar with this
structure and thought it appropriate, and one who had other ideas. The first, third
and fourth rows are all ordinary 4/2 soumak.
There are no ground wefts in this band. The heading cord has been wrapped with yarns
similar to the warps.
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to End Finishes page |
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