A Shirvan Rug, South Caucasus, Late 19th Century

A distinctive and elegant example of Shirvan weaving, this rug is centred by a vertical procession of four boldly stepped lozenges, each articulated in a refined palette of madder, ochre, celadon and ivory. These neutral tones work well in any interior. The deep, charcoal-toned field is animated by a constellation of talismanic devices—eight-pointed stars, rosettes, hooked medallions and abstracted floral forms—arranged with the crisp, rhythmic geometry emblematic of the region.

Along the lower and side registers appears a band of stylised woven script, an evocative feature found in select Caucasian rugs of the period. Whether denoting a date, a blessing, or a lineage reference, the inscription lends the piece a particularly personal and village-rooted character, underscoring its origin as a domestic, rather than purely commercial, weaving.

Framed by a sophisticated sequence of reciprocal hooked borders and smaller ribbon motifs, the rug displays both graphic vitality and a beautifully aged patina—an example of notable charm, balance, and cultural resonance within the Shirvan tradition.

247 × 150 cm.