Small Kazak Prayer Rug

150 x 91 cm (4' 11" x 3') Caucasus, dated 1277 (1860) Condition: very good for its age, scattered low pile, minor small repairs Warp: wool, weft: wool, pile: wool There is a very small group of closely related rugs, some of which feature silk in the weft and are dated to a very early period. One piece, illustrated in Ralph Kaffel's "Caucasian Prayer Rugs," no. 31, is dated 1807, for example. These rugs can be regarded as precursors to another small group dating to the mid-19th century. They feature a red ground with an almost always white field and a floating mihrab. A specimen from the Shirvan region is also illustrated in Kaffel as No. 70. On almost all carpets in both groups, four interconnected rhombuses are found in the center, sometimes with leaves in between. Only our piece features a different motif in the center. The origin of the two squares in the upper corners of the white field can be clearly seen in a broad-shouldered example that was auctioned at Christie's on April 5, 2011, as Lot 11. Another piece with a comparable niche design can be found at Christie's, May 17, 2005, Lot 50. Another prayer rug, also featuring the characteristic rhombuses, was auctioned by Lefevre in 1979 as Lot 43. A rug with rhombuses in the field, but with a rare blue ground, can be found in Rippon Boswell, Auction A98, Lot 72. In our piece, the weaver appears to suggest a white medallion, which stands out particularly clearly in the lower section. She also breaks up the basic square shape toward the top. For the center, she chooses a motif not unlike the ornaments found on some Shahsavan bags. Also noteworthy is the rug‘s superb color palette, which includes a deep aubergine. Estimate: € 10000 - 15000 Starting bid: € 6000

Estimate:£8,522.35

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