KAZAK, Southern Central Caucasian
4' 7" x 9' 2" Circa 1900 Price: $12,500
(High-Decorative)
This jewel-toned corridor-length carpet comes from the Caucasian Kazak region. Throughout the entire mountain range, a multitude of weaving peoples existed, many lost to today's scholars. A more specific attribution of Shasavan for this piece is suggested by its weave and modified star symbol within the latticework's "panes" associated with this tribe's lexicon. This rug's wool fiber is strong and glistening, acting as a prism for its rich color palette of russet, cobalt, spruce green, saffron yellow, aubergine, and mocha. Spontaneity is expressed often. Rows within the latticework never repeat the same pattern; sporadically improvised abrash and splashes of color are used throughout to riveting effect. Intriguingly, the turning of the main border design reveals very casual reconciliation, a feature of tribal rugs. The greatly overscale depiction of the sunburst or crab border motif is a distinctively Kazak feature.