I have a pair floral designed rugs (7x4 and 5x3 ft) that are flat weaves and signed.

Just for the record, here are the Arabic numbers used in Arabic and Farsi (Iran) inscriptions. Sometimes the "signatures" are dates. If you see four of these figures, unattached to one another, it will be a date. Like the signature above, which is cursive style with appropriate letters attached (some letters never attach to preceeding letters, some never to following letters, and some always stand alone, but numbers always stand alone.) This might be useful in deciphering at least dates from signatures or phrases.


0=?
1=?
2=?
3=?
4=?
5=?
6=?
7=?
8=?
9=?
10=??

Pro, how and why would they sign their names as numbers? I have never heard of anyone in any Islamic country signing their name as a number for any reason. What is the provenance on this practice in the rug producing arena? Very curious.

http://en.wikipedia.org/...numerals>>>>

A Persian friend just sent me the following link. You learn something every day. Numerology is forbidden in orthodox Islam as a form of witchcraft, but like all things it sticks around and different cultures within Islam have very different customs. Every one of the numbers I have seen has been a year because when deciphering the numbers they were appropriate years to when the carpets were said to have been made. Intersting. See Pro, you helped the Krow learn something new! I am surpriswed at this, but if the carpets using this number system are Persian that would explain my ignorance. My knowledge of these cultures centers around those a bit south of there.