SOUTH CAUCASUS, CIRCA 1870

The Gendje district in the Caucasus is located amongst several major weaving regions, giving rise to a melting pot of design influences. A very similar example to the present lot is published by Ian Bennett who argues that this ancient composition can be found depicted in fifteenth century European paintings (I. Bennett, Oriental Rugs: Volume 1 Caucasian, Woodbridge, 1981, pl.155, p.142). The arrangement of polychrome stars within a hexagon lattice can also be seen on a Karabagh rug published by James D. Burns (The Caucasus Traditions in Weaving, Washington, 1987, p.12) and a Talish rug by Ulrich Schurmann (Caucasian Rugs, London, 1965, pl. 55, p.171). Yellow ground Caucasian rugs are particularly decorative and are much sought after by collectors.