Shirvan Museum Curated, New Handmade Caucasian Carpet

About the Item

This is an exceptional rug, brand new, and made under special circumstances. Let us tell you briefly the back story. Modern day Azerbaijan with its many mountains and valleys, as in past centuries is a mosaic of different tribal peoples, isolated towns and villages with a millenia old tradition of fine weaving. Caucasian carpets as they are broadly referred to in the trade consist of at least 100 distinct styles, unique to specific villages, districts or regions. And each carpet is individual, no two are exactly alike. Caucasian carpets represent a high point in creative weaving and in quality and older examples are sought after by collectors. As in Persia (Iran) modernization across the 2Oth century often, if not always, brought about a decline in quality of carpet design and weaving quality as compared with the increasingly rare productions of the 19th century which command high prices – and are very difficult to find in a perfect condition, suitable for reasonably heavy wear – they are collector’s items. A small group of local enthusiasts aided by the government, and in liaison with the world famous (amongst rug aficionados) Azerbaijan carpet museum, Baku sought out the finest remaining village weavers and dyers to create a small quantity of original new carpets of the highest quality following and reviving tradition and honoring it. We have acquired a small number of these pieces, which are accurate renditions of their village type, as to pattern language and color, and handwoven to the very highest standards. These are each individual one of a kind pieces. This is a limited, carefully curated series. As we are collectors and dealers in 19th century and earlier Caucasian carpets, we found the purity of this pursuit to be compelling. What we noted, relevant for purchasers, is that the wool and weaving quality and density exceeds in many cases, that of the earlier productions of the 19th century: these are wonderfully strong carpets which will last 100 years, or more with heavy wear. For this project only the finest available lanolin rich wool was selected. The weavers were carefully chosen from a range of village environments around the country. Artistically, they dazzle. The colors achieve the desired mellowness of a well aged antique collectible, there is a fine hand woven quality seen in the designs and the fine hand work. Each of these rugs required between 9-12 months to weave on a hand loom. Shirvan occupying a weaving territory or region around greater Baku, Azerbaijan has been respected by western merchants since at least the 18th century, though weaving activities here go back much further. This bold example features the strong use of opposing squares embellished with strong zig zag individual borders. The colours as in all of the examples in this special museum curated small collection are superior, as is the wool and weaving quality. The border, as the field are wholly traditional, a display of flowers and stems. Note the fine work in the centre of the each medallion in red, white, blue and yellow and the inner border red figures which are the horizontal S figure representing Zoroaster. This is a striking piece which radiates ………life and its size, at over 9 feet in length, makes it a versatile and energizing piece of floor art – which will last for generations.

Dimensions:

Width: 49 in (124.46 cm)Length: 75 in (190.5 cm)

Materials and Techniques:

Wool,Hand-Knotted

Place of Origin:

Azerbaijan

Period:

21st Century

Date of Manufacture:

2018

Condition:

Seller Location: