Antique "Shield" Kazak rug, Elisabethpol Governate, Tovuz-Shamkir district, Kazak Uyezd, North-West Azerbaijan. published at Siyawouch Azadi "Azerbaijani Caucasian rugs" plate no: 127

127 Kadim Gyanja district centre, Gyanja, 260 X 132cm. Early 19th century

The dark brownish-red central field shows four octagon medallions (goels) arranged on top of one another which are surrounded by two squares in the middle and two octagons at the top and bottom. This pattern is more common for Kadim Minareh. However, variations can also be found in the Shirvan and Kazak regions. L. Kerimov reports that this pattern has also become quite common in Salyan (Shirvan) ever since the beginning of the 19th century. What is fascinating in all these groups are the comb and feather-like motifs in the light outlines of the medallions. However, we have no information as to what they symbolize or what they are called. What is interesting are the four triangles at the top and bottom; their sides facing the medallions have hooks.
A border on a dark brownish-red ground with a row of stars woven into octagons constitutes the dividing line of the main border which has a white ground and shows the classical vine meander with huge palmettes and four buds (so-called crab border).

Warp: Wool,Z3S, 3 x dark ivory, 2 x dark ivory + 1 x dark brown.
Weft: Wool, Z2, crimson, 4 wefts waved.
Pile: Wool, Z2, PH:10 mm.
Knots: Symmetrical 1, H32, W25 = 800Kn/dm2.
Handle: Meaty, thick, coarsely grained and cross-ribbed.
Upper end: c. 1.5 cm dark brownish-red wool  simple tapestry weave, groups of warps knotted.
Selvedge: c. 0.8 cm dark brownish-red wool shirazi around 2 ribs in figure-of-eight wrapping with supplemental threads which mainly extend into the fabric; the shirazi's red is darker than that of the weft.

Colours: 9; dark brownish-red, brownish-red, light brownish-red, reddish-brown, blackish-brown, dark blue, blue, green, ivory. Condition: Apart from a few skilful repairs,
Remarks: A particularly intensive and expressive example of Southern Azerbaijani weaving tradition.

Literature: Not identified by L. Kerimov. A magnificent and early piece from the collection of James D. Burns became known. See James D. Burns, The Caucasus Traditions in Weaving, Seattle 1987, plate 24.