Hand Knotted Persian Belouch Soffreh

This piece carries with it a rich history and a glimpse into a bygone way of life. Soffrehs, existing in two forms, play a pivotal role in the nomadic lifestyle. The long and narrow rectangular variants, typically 6-8 feet in length, function as eating cloths. Nomadic individuals would spread these rugs in the desert, creating impromptu tables where they would gather around, sharing food and engaging in conversation.
What sets this particular soffreh apart is its purported use as a bread-making cloth. In older pieces, traces of dough can sometimes be discovered within the threads, offering a tangible connection to the challenges of preparing food while migrating and living in yurts without conventional tables or benches.
Technically intricate, this soffreh may have been woven in two halves, likely during different seasons in summer and winter camps. Matching the size, design, and scale presents a unique challenge, resulting in a piece that doesn't lie flat. While it could be opened and stretched, doing so risks compromising its naivety and authenticity.
The prominent use of orange, especially in the 1940s, signifies the adoption of new, vibrant chemical dyes to enliven the desert surroundings. The weaver's expertise shines through with techniques such as warp wrapping and weft-faced methods, flanking the knotted border around the flat kilim weave.
This soffreh not only serves as a testament to a lifestyle now lost, as tribes have settled, but also stands as a cultural and tribal artifact, showcasing the skill and creativity of its weaver in a bygone era.