Antique Hand-Knotted Shirvan Prayer Rug Circa 1890
Item Details
An antique hand-knotted Shirvan prayer rug circa 1890. This rectilinear Caucasian area rug is rendered in a palette of cream, brown, and vermillion. It features a lattice pattern of diamonds containing a wide variety of stylized palmettes over a cream-colored field. The upper corners of the field above the mihrab each contain three hexagonal palmettes, with filler motifs including a peacock and a four-legged animal, S-shapes, and floating diamonds. Framing the field are compound, unresolved borders including a reciprocal medahil pattern in cerulean and gold, and geometric rosettes over black in one minor border and over cream in another. The primary border features a modified dragon border over vermillion. The rug has fringe on all sides, though at one time it may have had overcast selvedges. Warp threads include goat hair while the weft appears to be all wool. It is unlabeled.
| Type | prayer rug |
| Manufacturing Process | Handmade |
| Period | Neither |
Condition
- there are several holes and areas of heavy wear; areas of unprofessional repair; fringe is unbound, with loss to pile.
Dimensions
- approximately 3.5’ W x 5.4’ D.
Item #
17IND074-198
