LESGHI, Southern Central Caucasian
3' 8" x 6' 2" 3rd Quarter, 19th Century Price: $12,500
(Connoisseur-Caliber)
("New Arrivals Gallery") This ingeniously conceived Caucasian Lesghi, with its wonderfully saturated array of resonant hues and esoteric symbolism, illustrates an aesthetically unique cultural identity distilled over the generations into a woven work of art. It is emblazoned with a trio of retro-pixellated ‘Stars of Wisdom' with 'The Four Directions' arrow motifs. Each is contained in its own register, separated by reciprocal crenellations known as a ‘Fence of Security.’ It is an exceptionally rare visual paradigm and heretofore unknown to us. The central medallion is awash in luxe abrash color striations, imbuing this piece with an undeniable energy not possible without the weaver’s bold artistic decision. At the top of the field, you can see the hint of a fourth star that has either slipped out of frame or is about to be conveyed downward, giving the pattern of this gem a sense of vertical movement. Spontaneously placed tribal ornaments abound in the cardinal red and indigo zones surrounding each star, such as stencil-like daisies, squiggly cloud bands, giant “hashtags,” and numerous other shapes and delightful doodles.