Antique Shirvan Rug

Period: Late 19th Century
Origin: Shirvan, Caucasus
Dimensions: 198 x 358 cm

This rare late 19th century Caucasian Shirvan rug highlights a powerful and rhythmic geometric composition featuring a vertical sequence of five monumental, nested diamond medallions anchored within a saturated midnight indigo field. This structural balance between the dark, expansive ground and the high contrast ivory and madder red medallions reflects the pinnacle of the East Caucasian weaving tradition. Rugs of this antiquity are world renowned for their technical precision, often featuring a higher knot density and more complex secondary motifs than other tribal Caucasian varieties.

The color palette is masterfully balanced, featuring a primary midnight indigo field that serves as a dramatic canvas for high contrast shifts of madder red, ivory, and sapphire blue. These rich and enduring tones, achieved through the expert application of natural dyes over 130 years ago, exhibit a chromatic strength and a saturated depth that are hallmarks of the finest late 19th century Shirvan productions. The inclusion of two large madder red rectangular panels at the top and bottom of the field, combined with a wide ivory ground primary border decorated with a rhythmic sequence of reciprocating geometric “leaf and wine glass” motifs, creates a precise visual frame that highlights the superior wool quality and distinctive technical finesse of the weavers.

Structural analysis indicates the use of premium hand spun local wool with a characteristically fine clipped, resilient pile and a firm, substantial handle. The exceptional clarity of the angular outlines specifically the small geometric rosettes scattered alongside the central medallions and the precisely executed multi colored guard borders definitively distinguishes this antique masterpiece as an authentic late 19th century Shirvan. Ultimately, this rug stands as a premier example of Caucasian textile art, representing a peak in both technical endurance and graphic majesty for global textile collectors.

Stock No: 1285

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