EARLY 19TH CENTURY

The design of this wonderful south Caucasian village rug is highly unusual. The ascending totemic 'tree' design, more frequently woven as a field design, here runs the length of both side borders. It is an ancient motif that is seen on the earliest Caucasian, Persian and Anatolian weavings, and which is considered to be a symbol of life, fertility and frequent growth. The motif can appear either in multiple format or, as seen here, as a single device.

The two primal polychrome hooked, stepped lozenges that dominate the field design are more closely associated with the weavings from Borjalou, an example of which is discussed by Raoul Tschebull (Qarajeh to Quba, London, 2019, pp.146-7, pl.32). Tschebull suggests that the origin of these reciprocal hooked forms is one that most probably lies in early Oguz tribal art but is also tempted to suggest that there may be a connection with the dramatic visual designs found in Uzbek mosiac felts.