Antique Kuba Perepedil double niche prayer rug, early 19th century, North East Azerbaijan. published at Ralph Kaffel's Caucasian Prayer Rugs as plate 49. 107 x 231 cm.

Illustrated in this plate and in plate 50 opposite are both of the known double-niche Perepedils. The example illustrated here has different decoration in the spandrels at either end and also features the characteristic Perepedil 'ram's horn' design. Despite its damaged condition, the rug was described by Hali as 'one of the most beautiful and archaic examples [of the ram's horn design] we have seen'. An unusual design feature is the 'S'-form rendering of the upper pair of 'ram's horns', an anomaly also seen in plate 47.

Text and image from Ralph Kaffel's Caucasian Prayer Rugs.