KAZAK REGION, SOUTH CAUCASUS, CIRCA 1870

This striking Sewan Kazak rug from the south-west Caucasus represents another well-defined group named after Lake Sevan in the Central Transcaucasus. Among the boldest of Caucasian designs, the drawing of the central medallion, which extends along the entire length of the field, appears to fall into three different design shapes that include larger wings and arrowheads, square or squared-octagonal ends, or straight sides with an arrowhead finish, into which the present lot just about fits. The most striking feature of the present rug are undoubtedly the vibrant polychrome hooked canes that fill the upper and lower halves of the medallion, which are much longer and more prominent than in any other example we can find. For a fuller discussion on the design development of this group see, Raoul Tschebull, 'The Development of Four Kazak Designs', HALI, Vol 1, No.3, p.257-259.