Soumak carpet (270)

Soumak carpet from Kuba district,eastern Caucasus,west coast of the Caspian Sea.

Age: circa 1885

Size: 8′.8″x6′.8″ (264×203 cm)

The red field of this Kuba Soumak flatweave displays three flattened octagram medallions in dark blue and abrashed blue.There are eight compressed secondary octagons in yellow with internal hooks.Both the medallions and the field present amusing animals,birds,stars,leaves,rosettes,knots,diamonds and a multitude of other charming elements.Around each medallion is an ivory border enclosing chains of hexagons with interior S’s.The dark brown main border hosts a kilim pattern of stepped octagons enclosing smaller stepped medallions in all the various colors.The flanking ivory minor borders host colorful stars.In the Kuba manner,the outermost border shows a bitonal hooked wave pattern.At the outer edges of the field is a blue narrow keyhole open surround.At each end is a soumak band followed by a knotted warp net.The colors are vivid and the handle is soft.The piece is in good condition.