Soumak carpet (249)

Soumak carpet from Kuba district,eastern Caucasus,west coast of the Caspian Sea

Age: circa 1885

Size: 8′.5"x5′.4" (257×163 cm)

Five gul-like medallions alternate in dark blue and old ivory on the slightly abrashed red field with oblique rhomboids and hooked triangle fillers.In addition there are several rosettes,knots,pinwheels and small hooked lozenges.The secondary colors include:aubergine,yellow,green and camel.The old ivory main border shows a multicolor chain of ashiks and paired triangles.The flanking minor blue borders both display floating rosettes in various colors,and there is an outer red and dark brown reciprocal wave frame..There are four dotted guard lines in the border system.At each end is a fragmentary knotted warp net.The general effect is of spaciousness,boldness and avoidance of unnecessary details.The handle is dry and aged.All the colors are from natural sources.The condition is good except for partially loose edges.