SOUTH CAUCASUS, CIRCA 1890

Whilst there is little variation in the field design from other examples in this group, the border design on the present lot has a more unusual and playful interpretation. Both end borders employ pairs of inverted 'c' motifs whilst the side borders are executed with three pairs of linked angular bracket-like motifs and a final group of four that adds an interesting rhythm to the rug and places emphasis on the differing stepped polychrome lozenges between each group. There is only one published example of nineteenth century date which has any variation in the field design, and that is an example has a very provincial drawing style in a number of details (Antique Oriental Carpets from Austrian Collections, Society for Textile Art Research, Vienna 1986, no.41).

A brief discussion of this group can be found by Hans Otto Gsell ("Some thoughts on the swastika Kazak", Hali, vol.3, no.3, 1981, pp.292). The earliest dated example bears the figure AH 1222/1807-8 AD, but there is some doubt as to whether this is correct (Rippon Boswell, Wiesbaden, 10 November 1984); a date in the second half of the 19th century seems more probable for the majority of examples. Another related example of the group was published by Eberhart Herrmann, Asiatische Teppiche und Tektilkunst 3, Munich 1991, nr.17 and a further example sold more recently at Rippon Boswell, Wiesbaden, 24 May 2008, lot 126. This remarkably coherent group has remained one of the most collectable of all Caucasian nineteenth century designs.