517. A dramatic Caucasian Karadagh Runner

517. Provenance: Karadagh, Azerbaijan, The Caucasus

Size: 417 x 130 cm

Age: Circa 1920

Condition: Generally good for age, but the dark brown in the field shows heavy corrosion of the pile. This is common in carpets that used natural iron oxide dyes for dark browns. Over age the pile tends to corrode to leave a 'sculpted', ridged relief.

Notes: The rugs of Karadagh or Karadja, can be from either side of the Iranian/Azerbaijan border. This is likely to derive from the latter, and it has an all-wool construction. The design is classic and clear, and has a wealth of tribal and animal motifs.