Shirvan rug (336)

Shirvan prayer rug from eastern Caucasus,west coast of the Caspian Sea

Age: circa 1875

Measurements: 4′.10″x3′.8″ (147×112 cm)

This unusual Shirvan prayer rug has an ivory field displaying a dense,small scale lozenge lattice in dark blue and red,except in the lower third of the field the red lines are absent.The outline change produces an abrash effect.In each small cell is a diamond in shades of red,chocolate,navy and black.The ivory spandrels continue the field pattern.Small combs,tiny flowers and various eccentric tertiary motifs are scattered around the edges of the field and the spandrels.The sawtooth mihrab arch has a colorful rosette design.The madder main border has the characteristic barred S pattern,and is flanked by navy minors decorated with crosses,quartered lozenges and rosettes.There are four two tone barber pole lines and a red and brown triangle pattern innermost stripe.The wool is soft and the rug is pliable.All the colors are from natural sources.The condition of the rug is good.