21

Eastern Caucasus, Kuba district

Rug, 1st half of the 19th century

 Although its condition and brilliant colors give it a relatively new appearance, this well-preserved rug is an early example of its type, known as "Karagashli".  Its high quality wool, vivid dyes, and fine weave are representative of the best output of the Kuba district in the early 19th century.  Its age is suggested both by its quality and by the spacious and fluidly drawn design of the field which in later Karagashli rugs tended to become stiffer and more squared-off. The floral design elements are derived from 18th-century blossom carpets of the eastern Caucasus, which descended from earlier Persian carpets.

M.H.