About the Antique Rugs of the Future Project

Sheep Breeds of Azerbaijan

Shearing,
Sorting, Washing, Carding, Spinning

"The advantages of handspun yarn to machine spun yarn"

Rediscovery of Ancient Natural Dyes
Our Natural Dyestuffs

Mordants

Difference between synthetically and naturally dyed rugs

Weaving and Finishing Steps

Galleries of ARFP Caucasian Azerbaijani Rugs

 


 

Antique Kuba rug, Southern Hillside Kuba Region, North East Azerbaijan


30 Ugakh
Divichi district, Kuba 180 X 120 cm Beginning of the 20th century

A vertical axis crossed by six horizontal rods at 90° angles runs through the middle of the dark-blue central field, dividing it into fourteen rectangles of nearly equal size. Between the horizontal rods, there are two varieties of floral wreaths. Seen from bottom to top, their direction alternates from the second row on, though only in four fields. Feather-like ornamentations project from each end of the vertical axis. The entire central field is fashioned in a highly idiosyncratic manner. The main border with its white ground is recognizable from Zeikhur carpets or Gollu Chichi, termed kabala naqish or kabala pattern. This border is flanked by two minor borders or rosettes on a dark-blue ground. A reciprocal crenellated border (madakhil) frames the whole.

Warps: Wool, Z3 S, ivory, often 2 x ivory + 1X brown or vice versa.
Wefts: Cotton, Z2, white; Cotton + Wool, Z2, while and ivory, 2 wefts: 1st tight, 2nd waved.
Pile: Wool, Z2, brownish-red wool, also Z3, Pile Height: 5 mm.
Knots: Symmetrical 3, \, 35 °, H 50, V40 = 2,000 Kn/dm2.
Handle: Velvety, not thin, ribbed.
Upper End: c. 1.5 cm white cotton simple tapestry weave.
Lower End: c. 2 cm wool + cotton flat-woven end, starts with cotton wefts in pairs like simple tapestry weave, then thick cotton wefts around 1 or 2 warp-threads, warps knotted in large clusters, triangle structure, bid not braided.
Selvedge: Thin, round, now pale-red wool shirazi.
Colours: 11; red, dark red, dark violet-brown, light brown, blackish-brown, dark blue, blue, light blue, dark green, dark olive, ivory. Condition: Upper end partly restored, otherwise good, red shades faded.

Literature: Not identified anywhere.
published at Siyawouch Azadi "Azerbaijani Caucasian rugs" plate no: 30