SOUTH CAUCASUS, CIRCA 1870

The striking green-ground of the present rug displays the classic four and one medallion design associated with the Karachopf area, together with the ubiquitous 'leaf and calyx' border set between reciprocal minor stripes. All the motifs have been spaciously arranged and the composition appears both forceful and harmoniously balanced with wonderfully rich colours. A comparison of green-ground Karachopfs reveals that there are various sub-groups which differ in ornamentation and palette, and must have been woven in different villages. A comparable example was gifted by James F. Ballard to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, (Dimand and Mailey, Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1973, fig. 239), while others are published by E. Herrmann, Von Uschak bis Yarkand. Seltene Orientteppiche 2, Munich 1979, no.16; P. Bausback, Antike orientalische Knüpfkunst, Mannheim 1977, p. 51 and R. Tschebull, Kazak, New York 1971, no. 33.