499. an arresting antique Karabagh Caucasian rug

499. Provenance: Karabagh, Azerbaijan, The Caucasus

Size: 266 x 134 cm

Age: Dated 1332 (Hijri Calendar), or 1914 Gregorian

Condition: Pretty good for a centarian. Areas of wear, and corrosion of the dark browns.

Notes: A very interesting and unusual design with eight stepped diamond-shaped medallions. Lots of quirky and individual motifs in the field. Many Karabagh rugs show a close resemblance in style to Kurdish rugs across the border in Northwest Persia and some even use a cotton foundation like their Persian cousins. This one however is wool-on-wool, but its borders in particular share many similarities with the Kurds.