1960s Vintage Afghan Baluch Mihrab Wool Rug"x 3'4'' x 6'1''

Three large panels with arched mihrab shapes fill a deep brown field, dotted with small motifs in orange, rust and indigo, inside a cream and brown border. The repeating arches give the rug an architectural, almost window-like look. It is a 3x6 vintage Afghan Baluch rug in brown and rust.

This vintage Afghan Baluch rug was hand knotted around 1960 by Baluch weavers along the Afghanistan and Iran border. Its prayer-panel (mihrab) design, built from repeating arch motifs, is a signature of Baluch weaving and stands for spirituality, protection and harmony. The deep brown, rust red, indigo and warm orange come from natural dyes, and the wool is soft, durable and naturally lustrous. Dealers often point to the wool first when judging a Baluch rug, and this one has the soft, glossy wool the weavers are known for.

The narrow 3x6 size suits a hallway, an entryway, a bedside or a layered look over a larger rug. Its earthy palette suits rustic, traditional and bohemian rooms, and it is a fine piece for collectors of tribal textiles.