Lot Essay
Warp: wool, light brown, natural, some mixing, Z3S
Weft: wool, tan, natural, Z2S, 2 shoots alternating, first straight, second wavy
Pile: wool, Z2, symmetric, no alternate warp depression, H10xV11
Sides and Ends: all not original
Colors: navy, ivory, brick, light blue, light green, brown black, deep blue-green, sapphire, straw, red brown, burnt ochre, violet rust (12)
The Lenkoran runner offered here displays a quiet and elegant restraint by its spaciousness and balance of medallions to filler ornaments. The zoomorphic Lenkoran medallions, a descendant of palmettes found on 18th century Caucasian pieces (see Volkman,M., Old Eastern Carpets, Munich, 1985, pl.13), here are not only well drawn, but seem to float upon the dark indigo field. This is partially due to the fact that the weaver chose to eliminate the ubiquitous polygonal medallion that typically separates the Lenkoran medallions. The sparse use of the carefully chosen filler elements of various kinds of rosettes and amulets creates a visually interesting and uncrowded composition. The colorful crab device border with an ivory ground color frames the field while highlighting the ivory used to outline the medallions.
Similar Lenkoran examples can be found in Volkman, ibid, p.168, pl.68; Rippon Boswell, 23 May 1997, lot 61, and 30 May 1992, lot 137; Herrmann, Eberhart, Seltene Orientteppiche X, pl.31; Schurmann,U., Caucasian Rugs, 1974, pl.57, and Sotheby's New York, 10 December 1992, lot 39. These cited examples from this popular Caucasian group have much in common with our example, however, this Lenkoran runner departs from this group due to its relative long and narrow format, as well as, its graceful simplicity of design.
Weft: wool, tan, natural, Z2S, 2 shoots alternating, first straight, second wavy
Pile: wool, Z2, symmetric, no alternate warp depression, H10xV11
Sides and Ends: all not original
Colors: navy, ivory, brick, light blue, light green, brown black, deep blue-green, sapphire, straw, red brown, burnt ochre, violet rust (12)
The Lenkoran runner offered here displays a quiet and elegant restraint by its spaciousness and balance of medallions to filler ornaments. The zoomorphic Lenkoran medallions, a descendant of palmettes found on 18th century Caucasian pieces (see Volkman,M., Old Eastern Carpets, Munich, 1985, pl.13), here are not only well drawn, but seem to float upon the dark indigo field. This is partially due to the fact that the weaver chose to eliminate the ubiquitous polygonal medallion that typically separates the Lenkoran medallions. The sparse use of the carefully chosen filler elements of various kinds of rosettes and amulets creates a visually interesting and uncrowded composition. The colorful crab device border with an ivory ground color frames the field while highlighting the ivory used to outline the medallions.
Similar Lenkoran examples can be found in Volkman, ibid, p.168, pl.68; Rippon Boswell, 23 May 1997, lot 61, and 30 May 1992, lot 137; Herrmann, Eberhart, Seltene Orientteppiche X, pl.31; Schurmann,U., Caucasian Rugs, 1974, pl.57, and Sotheby's New York, 10 December 1992, lot 39. These cited examples from this popular Caucasian group have much in common with our example, however, this Lenkoran runner departs from this group due to its relative long and narrow format, as well as, its graceful simplicity of design.