Kazak rug (479)

Ivory ground Kazak rug from Armenia,southwest Caucasus

Age: circa 1870

Size: 5′.2"x3′.11" ( 157×119 cm)

The ivory ground of this unusual Kazak rug presents three disjoint densely hooked and nested hexagons in red,blue,green and yellow.Small flowers,rosettes,diamonds,jewelry elements and quincunxes are scattered about.The inner edge of the field is surrounded by colorful hooked elements.The yellow main border shows two distinct designs:at each end is a geometric slanted S pattern;on the sides are hooked motifs with diamond centers;and small intervening quincunxes.The flanking minor borders are green and blue and both employ red zig zags.The outermost ivory border hosts a connected multicolor diamonds chains on three sides and free floating diamonds on the other.There are five bitonal barber pole lines in the border system.At each end is a soumak finishing followed by an elaborate knotted warp net.The handle is soft and pliable.All the colors are from natural sources.The condition of the piece is good with the dark brown naturally corroded and the field having even pile.The three cord selvedges are original and totally intact.