SOUTH CAUCASUS, CIRCA 1870

The bold design of this rug, comprising a central white-ground octagonal medallion surrounded by four white-ground squares is characteristic of Karatchopf Kazak rugs, woven in a 2:1:2 formation. The borders display a particularly well-spaced example of the leaf-and-wineglass design, comprising small, goblet-like motifs between serrated leaves. Given the cruciform shapes in the ‘glass’ motifs, it is possible that these may also be interpreted as representations of Armenian churches in line with the religious iconography of the Armenian weavers.

A comparison of green-ground Karatchopfs reveals that there are various sub-groups which differ in ornamentation and palette, and must have been woven in different villages. This example, with a soft green field, presents an attractive, somewhat lighter, palette than other Karatchopfs, with a higher proportion of white and yellow. A Karatchopf rug with a comparable palette to our example was sold in these Rooms, 2 April 2009, lot 18. For further comparable examples, see Leo Spik, Berlin, 8 December 2012, lot 1733 (published in Hali, issue 175, Spring 2013, p. 136) and Sotheby’s, London, 3 November 2015, lot 5 (published in Hali, issue 187, Spring 2016, p. 132).