Early Caucasian Carpet

Period: 18th Century
Origin: Caucasus
Dimensions: 215 x 272 cm

This rare 18th century Caucasian carpet highlights a powerful and rhythmic floral composition featuring a deep midnight indigo field densely populated with an array of monumental “Harshang” or crab-style palmettes and stylized botanical motifs. This structural balance between the dark, saturated ground and the large-scale, flame-like floral elements reflects the pinnacle of the early South Caucasian weaving tradition, where archaic Persian Safavid influences were transformed into a bold and geometric tribal aesthetic. Caucasian carpets of this antiquity are world renowned for their graphic strength and enduring vitality, representing a period before the more standardized patterns of the 19th century took hold.

The color palette is masterfully balanced featuring a primary midnight indigo ground that serves as a dramatic canvas for high contrast shifts of madder red, golden saffron, forest green, and soft sky blue. These rich and enduring tones, achieved through the expert application of natural dyes over two centuries ago, exhibit a chromatic strength and a saturated depth that are hallmarks of the finest 18th century productions. The inclusion of a wide madder red primary border decorated with a rhythmic sequence of reciprocating floral palmettes and delicate vinework creates a precise visual frame that highlights the superior wool quality and distinctive technical finesse of the early weavers.

Structural analysis indicates the use of premium hand-spun local wool with a characteristically lustrous pile and a heavy, resilient handle. The exceptional clarity of the angular outlines—specifically the intricate “dragon” inspired flourishes and the small, scattered geometric rosettes—and the presence of significant, harmonious abrash throughout the indigo and red sections definitively distinguish this antique masterpiece as an authentic 18th-century artifact. Ultimately, this Caucasian carpet stands as a premier example of tribal art, representing a peak in both technical endurance and graphic majesty for global textile collectors.

Size : 215 x 272 cm

Request Information