BAKSHAISH RUNNER Antique Persian Rug

This elemental Persian Bakshaish runner is entirely focused on abrash, the art of intentional striation within a color so that many shadings are visible. Unusually narrow, the field of this geometric village piece effectively showcases at least ten different shades of striated chestnut brown along its length. Two-thirds of the way up, the effect of sunlight streaming across the field is captured twice, as the brown ground gives way towards taupes simulating this phenomenon. Virtuoso abrash is also abundantly evident in its muted strawberry-red and sky-blue borders, where subtle hue variations are clear and startlingly beautiful. Its chain of ascending diamonds, as this runner’s major focus reflects the essence of the weaver’s elemental lifestyle amidst the rugged Elbrus Mountains, while the precisely measured presentation of the main and accent borders reveals admirable overall craftsmanship.