Antique Shirvan Prayer Rug

Period: Late 19th Century
Origin: Caucasus
Dimensions: 112 x 140 cm

This rare late 19th century Shirvan prayer rug highlights a powerful and rhythmic composition featuring a magnificent mihrab design anchoring an incredibly striking, all-over lattice field layout. This structural balance between the prominent ivory-white field complete with its dense repeating trellis of geometric flowers and boteh motifs, and the complex multi-layered borders reflects the pinnacle of traditional Caucasus fine craftsmanship world-renowned for its bold iconography, decorative clarity, and majestic graphic presence. Textiles of this antiquity are celebrated for their ability to blend highly expressive regional design narratives with a striking, geometric abstraction.

The color palette is masterfully balanced featuring a primary crisp ivory canvas that allows the vibrant touches of saturated madder red, deep indigo blue, and warm saffron yellow details to step forward dynamically. These rich and enduring tones achieved through the expert application of natural vegetable dyes over 130 years ago exhibit a characteristic gentle patina, soft historic abrash, and an organic textile texture that are hallmarks of the finest late 19th century Caucasian regional productions. The multi-layered framing borders featuring characteristic polychrome geometric and tribal bands create a powerful visual boundary that highlights the superior wool quality and distinctive technical finesse of the weaver.

Structural analysis indicates the use of premium hand-spun wool with a characteristically resilient, tight knotting structure and a supple yet firm handle tailored for refined aesthetic spaces. The exceptional clarity of the intricate geometric outlines, specifically the perfectly balanced symmetry of the prayer arch and corresponding tribal borders, definitively distinguishes this antique masterpiece as an authentic late 19th century Caucasian Shirvan production. Ultimately, this decorative textile stands as a premier example of classical Caucasian art representing a peak in both technical endurance and graphic majesty for global collectors.

Stock No: 2283

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