This Persian rug has a wool foundation and a wool pile. It is an above average weave, with 225 knots per square inch.
 
The Balouch people live in the border region between Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan (also known as Balouchistan). Their rugs tend to comprise lively arrangements of traditional tribal motifs rendered in distinctive dark reds and browns with crisp ivory or gold highlights. Far from just being beautiful examples of geometric pattern-making, their rugs are in fact rich in symbolism. Motifs such as the Wolf’s Mouth and the Evil Eye for instance offer protection, while the Tree of Life alludes to fertility, abundance and even immortality. While the tribal nature of these rugs limits their size to small-to-medium, they are nonetheless attractive and hard-wearing pieces. 
 
This piece makes particularly striking use of gold to render the motifs in the centre. The manner in which they contrast with the more sombre colours in the background creates an overall aura of warmth and richness.