EAST CAUCASUS, CIRCA 1860

The present lot is unusual both in field design and field colour. Green itself is a common colour in Soumac rugs but almost invariably used as a minor colour for details in the medallions on red ground or in the border. Another Soumac with such overall field pattern but on yellow ground was sold in these Rooms The Bernheimer Family Collection of carpets, 14 February 1996, lot 17. It is dated AH 1279/1862-63 AD. Another 19th century Soumac rug in the Museum für Islamische Kunst Berlin has the same pattern as the latter on ivory ground (Friedrich Spuhler, Oriental carpets in the Museum of Islamic Art, Berlin, London 1988, pp.130-131 and 298, pl.162).