| | HT338
HT 338
Origin:East Caucasian Kuba.
Date: Late 19th C or earlier.
Size: 4ft 9ins X 3ft 1ins (145x94cms)
Structure
Warps: wool, ivory slightly depressed.
Wefts:wool ivory 2 shoots
Pile: wool
Knots: soumac stitch
Sides: 4 Êcords wrapped red part original.
Ends: not original.
Dyes: vegetal
Colours:7) red, yellow, green, mid-blue, dark blue, dark brown, Êivory.
Description The narrow field is made up of a double lattice, centred one on a small rosette and the other on a stepped diamond. There are floral based motifs in the qnarters of the lattice. Note the figure of a man flanked by two animals at the top, it probably had significance to the weaver of for whom it was woven. The main border is a common East Caucasian design as well as the inner diagonal striped one. Ê
Condition The rug is complete, with the outer border re-woven at both ends. The sides are mostly original and there is a re-weave in the centre. The restoration was done sensitively and well executed. It has the feel of an old rug.
Commentary An old and interesting rug in a smaller size than most soumacs. The lattice field is very similar to a piece ascribed by James Burns to Kuba which shows clearly the precurser to this design. Rugs of this character were most likely to have been made for domestic use. This rug could also have come from Dagestan or Shirvan. It is very difficult to give a precise age as the wool certainly looks old and therefore could be up to seventy years older.
References in LiteratureJames Burns. The Caucasus, Traditions in Weaving p16 Price: £1750 Ê | |
