Antique Caucasian Kazak Rug

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The rug has the heavier, more strongly geometric character associated with Kazak weaving rather than the generally finer, more closely … Read more The rug has the heavier, more strongly geometric character associated with Kazak weaving rather than the generally finer, more closely articulated drawing of Shirvan. The construction visible from the back, the bold scale of the medallions, and the powerful geometric field all support that attribution. A Lesghi attribution is less convincing because classic Lesghi rugs are particularly associated with repeating Lesghi star devices; your rug's dominant ornaments are quite different.

The deep midnight-blue field contains three large, strongly drawn geometric medallions arranged vertically. The upper medallion is predominantly madder red, the center is strikingly ivory, and the lower medallion combines green with red. Each contains smaller hooked diamonds and angular devices, while numerous small geometric ornaments fill the surrounding dark field.

One of the most impressive features is the unusually elaborate multiple-border arrangement. A broad ivory border filled with colorful angular forms provides a dramatic contrast to the dark field, surrounded by several narrower guard borders displaying reciprocal, floral and geometric motifs. The palette is especially attractive: deep indigo, madder and brick red, ivory, blue, green, yellow and touches of brown.

The combination of the three-medallion field and ivory border is well established among antique Kazak rugs. Christie's, for example, catalogued a circa-1880 South Caucasian Kazak with a triple-medallion arrangement and noted that rugs within this family can combine design characteristics associated with different weaving areas, including Lori Pambak and Borjalu. That is one reason I would prefer “Caucasian Kazak” to forcing your rug into a narrower attribution. See less