SOUTH CAUCASUS, 18TH CENTURY

The present carpet belongs to a group of especially flamboyant 18th century Blossom carpets, characterised by their exuberant ‘harshang’ field designs set within bold strapwork borders. The designs of these carpets have their origins in the intricate and curvilinear floral carpets of the 16th and 17th century Safavid court, which in the hands of the Caucasian weaver have been transformed into more tribal and graphic compositions. A transformation that is particularly apparent in the border of the present lot. Our carpet relates closely to two examples in the collection of the Turk ve Islam Museum, Istanbul and published in Serare Yetkin, Early Caucasian Carpets in Turkey, Volume I, London, 1978, pl.88 and 93. The border of plate 93, inv. no. 735 (3135), is very similar to the present lot. For another related Blossom carpet in the sale, please see lot 11.