Babur was a direct descendent of Tamurlane, sat on the throne in Kabul and founded the Mogul dynasty in India. The Babur Nama gives a view of the life of a nomadic central Asian horseman driven from his ancestral lands by the emergent Uzbeks to found the Moghul dynasty in N India.
BACTRIA
historical Central Asian dynasty. Related to the Greeks.
Badam: literal translation from all of the Turkic based languages including Uzbek, Turkmen, Farsi 'almond', refers to a pattern seen more often in Ersari weavings used as a border motif
BAGHMAL (tADJ?K AND UZBEK) ikat dyed silk fabric
BAHKTIARI
A nomadic group in southern Persia migrating between the central Zagros mountains and the low-lying areas around Ahvaz; in common with the Lurs they speak a Persian dialect with archaic features. They are also settled in numerous villages in a wide area east of the mountains around Shahr Kord, know as the Chahar Mahal.
BAKHSHAISH
NW Persian town, good antique decorative carpets. A financial consideration.
BAKU
Caspian Sea port
BALKH
N Afghan ruined city of historical importance
BARBERPOLE
Diagonal stripes
BASHTYK Kirghiz storage bag, may be either pile or an embroidered textile.
BEHBEHAN
Luri centre between Shiraz and Ahwaz
BEKASAM
cotton-wefted, striped fabrics
BELOUCH
(Also, Baluch, Balouch, Beluch, Balooch) Known for the distinctive black-tents made of goats' hair, the Belouch are a nomadic group inhabiting eastern Iran, western Pakistan and Southern Afghanistan. They speak a language related to Persian. Their weavings have a uniquely archaic look
BENARES
India famous brocades, a holy city by the banks of the Ganges River in India.
BERGAMA
West Anatolian anthic city with a strong weaving tradition.
BESHIR Place in Central Asia, on the banks of the Amu Darya and generic name for colourful weavings with similar patterns, many of which are related to silk ikat weaving designs.
BEYSEHIR
Anatolian town, famous for great antique rugs discovered at the Seljuk period mosque.
BIRJAND
East Iran centre for both floral and tribal weaving
BORDER
A design that surrounds the field in an oriental rug
BORDJALU
Georgian style of Kazakh and a type of sombre Kurdish rug
BOTEH A pear-shaped figure often used in oriental rug designs, characteristic of the paisley pattern. The botch may represent a leaf, bush or a pinecone.
BUKHARA
(Bokhara) For centuries, a center of Muslim learning and spirituality, and the principal trading point for Turkmen tribal carpets; many Turkman carpets as a result have erroneously been called "Bukhara."
