Lot Essay
A strikingly similar Karabagh Boteh runner is in the collection of W. Parsons Todd (please see Pittenger, R. and Mallary, R. D. III, Oriental Rugs from the Collection of W. Parsons Todd, 1992, pp.34-45). Albeit narrower, it utilizes the same rosette and vinery border surrounding a field of similarily treated polychrome boteh with a nearly identical center medallion. The Todd piece is dated 1258AH (1842AD) and it seems probable that our piece was woven during this same period and perhaps even by the same weavers. The lot offered here exudes a dynamic rhythm by the juxtaposition of the diagonal and horizontal rows of boteh. The vivid and wide range of colors which conincide in the diagonal rows oscilates well with the tips of the boteh which alternate direction in each horizontal row.