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Lot Essay
The field design of this runner, with the central column of angular palmettes enclosed within similarly angular cusped leaves, is closely related to those attributed to Bidjov town. The main field is however also flanked at each end by paired archaic stylised dragons similar to those used in 18th century Karabagh carpets, and also includes a variety of hooked plants, palmettes and human figures. Whilst including a large array of motifs, it manages to maintain a balance, spacing and consistency of design more usually seen in rugs dateable to the early 19th century. A Bidjov rug in the collection of Leigh and Sally Marsh is dated to the first half of the 19th century (Dodds D.R. and Eiland M.L., Jr.: Oriental Rugs from Atlantic Collections, Philadelphia, 1996, p.65, pl.65). The present rug has a field which is slightly more archaic, particularly in the scrolling dragons in the field and in the widely spaced border.
The variety of colour used in this runner also supports an early date. The richness and in particular the variety of dyes used is atypical of late 19th or early 20th century examples (see Bennett, I.: Oriental Rugs, Volume 1 Caucasian, London, 1981, pp.214-215, pls.266 and 268). In these examples the variety in the use of colour has reduced; the field design is also more crowded. The field of the carpet in the following lot typifies these traits.
The border design in the rug offer here is unusual and archaic, as mentioned above. The same meandering vine issuing stylised double palmettes and smaller facing part palmettes, although less angular and more reminiscent of a Turkish 16th century prototype, can also be seen in a rug from the Seychour region dated to the 18th century (Bausback, P.; Antike Orientteppiche, Brauschweig, 1978, p.278, pl.279).
The variety of colour used in this runner also supports an early date. The richness and in particular the variety of dyes used is atypical of late 19th or early 20th century examples (see Bennett, I.: Oriental Rugs, Volume 1 Caucasian, London, 1981, pp.214-215, pls.266 and 268). In these examples the variety in the use of colour has reduced; the field design is also more crowded. The field of the carpet in the following lot typifies these traits.
The border design in the rug offer here is unusual and archaic, as mentioned above. The same meandering vine issuing stylised double palmettes and smaller facing part palmettes, although less angular and more reminiscent of a Turkish 16th century prototype, can also be seen in a rug from the Seychour region dated to the 18th century (Bausback, P.; Antike Orientteppiche, Brauschweig, 1978, p.278, pl.279).