Methane rug (521)

Methane rug from southeast Caucasus,Talish area

Age: circa 1870

Size: 7′.6"x3′.4" (229×102 cm)

This southeast Caucasian long rug features a barber pole hexagon lattice enclosing hooked diamonds in diagonal color bands.Colors include:ivory,shades of red,shades of blue,yellow and rose.The pattern continues with half motifs as side fillers.The ivory main border hosts slanted leaf and stylized chalice design.There are five minor borders:a red innermost with colorful stars;two abrashed blue ground frames with red diamonds;a dark red frame with an undulating blue vine;and an outermost blue and dark brown keyhole reciprocal.The handle is soft and flexible and the wool is of high quality.The ends are intact and so are the sides.All the colors are from natural sources.The piece is in good condition.