Shirvan rug (586)

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

Age: circa 1875

Size: 4′.10″x3′.8″ (147×112 cm)

This ivory Shirvan prayer rug shows a diamond leaf lattice employing flowers in a necklace layout.The pattern continues, slightly modified,into the spandrels which show in addition a number of small rosettes.The niche arch is decorated by pigeons or stylized botehs often seen in Kuba district Marasali rugs.The red main border hosts stars,while the outermost dark brown narrow minor border displays crosses and X’s.The tertiary blue and black keyhole reciprocal border is supported by three barber pole lines in black and white.At each end is a narrow beige flatwoven strip followed by warp knots at the top end.All the colors are from natural sources including camel.The handle is soft and pliable and the condition is good.