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Fachralo Kazak Pile Rug
2nd half 19th century

Fachralo Kazak Prayer Rugs are a well-established and long-collected type. This particular example displays characteristics that have made them popular, starting with the classic Fachralo color palette -- bright red, green, blue, yellow, and white. The design is spaciously drawn and well balanced, with equal "visual weight" between the central medallion, the green peaked-apex mihrab, the waterbug palmettes, and the main borders of serrated leaves or stepped triangles. Less common highlights of this example are the particularly sizable and well-drawn white central medallion (detail 1), and some charming smaller elements, such as the eight-pointed star among the lower row of palmettes (detail 2), and the boteh-like figures in and above the mihrab.

Comparison with some other examples in the literature illustrates a couple of things: how many minor design variations there are, and how difficult it is to convincingly link design to rug dating, as is often done. The most similar piece known to the owner is Kaffel1 plate 11, with a similar peaked apex mihrab, waterbug palmettes, and open main border without chalices joining the design. Based on the notion of progressive design crowding as you move through the 19th century, both pieces might be placed around 1875. Bennett2 Plate 24, a similar piece from a design standpoint, with the open border figure filled with diamonds on all sides of the piece, is dated 1894, and so far the design-evolution-dating principle appears to work reasonably well. But Hermann VIII3, Plate 22 shows a similar example with a rounded top instead of pointed mihrab and the same filled border, attributed to mid-19th century. And Walker4, Plate 11, shows a piece with completely open border and mihrab, but attributed by the author to late 19th or even early 20th century. Either these last two authors are considerably off in their dating, or design openness is not a foolproof guide to rug age (both are possibilities, but the second is probably the safer to assume).

1. Ralph Kaffel, Caucasian Prayer Rugs, London, 1998.
2. Ian Bennett, Oriental Rugs Volume 1 Caucasian, London, 1981 (from Eder's German original).
3. Eberhart Herrmann, Seltene Orientteppiche VIII, Munich, 1986.
4. Daniel Walker, Oriental Rugs of the Hajji Babas, New York, 1982.

 

  
   

Detailed Images  (click an image for a detailed view)
Detail 1 - front
(310kb)		 Detail 2 - front
(315kb)		 Detail 3 - back
(151kb)

 
    
Structural Analysis
Size:

4' 6" x 4' 1" (137 x 124 cm)
Warp:

ivory wool, 16 per inch
Weft:

rose wool, mostly four shoots
Pile:

wool, symmetric knots, 8w x 7h, 56 kpsi
Colors: (6) red, green, blue, white, yellow, brown
Ends:

upper -- pretty much gone; lower -- plainweave with rose weft
Sides:

2 cords, each of 2 warp threads, overcast with rose wool
    
 

 
 
  
 
 
 
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Prayer Rugs & Related Textiles