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
 

back to "An Educational Guide to Antique Moghan rugs and carpets" main page
 


 

Antique Moghan rug with Memling Guls, first half 19th century 


SIZE: 105 x 38 3/4 in. (266.7 x 98.4 cm.)
WARP: wool, Z3S; brown, ivory
WEFT: cotton, Z3S x 3-5; ivory; wool, z2s x 2-3; blue, red
PILE: wool, Z2S, symmetrical knots, h. 7, v. 8, 56 k/sq. in.; ivory, black-brown, red-brown, red, yellow, green, blue-green, dark blue, blue, light blue
ENDS: cut
SIDES: red, light orange, and blue wool selvedge of 3 cords of 2 warps each
Southwestern Caucasus, Moghan district

Long Rug, 1st half of the 19th century

This old runner from the Moghan district was once several feet longer, but its reduction (barely visible just above the bottom border) has in no way diminished its impact. While the "Memling guls" in the ivory main border are common Caucasian motifs, the colorful hooked diamonds in the narrow red field are a curiosity. Similar figures with "smooth" contours appear in pile rugs from the southwestern Caucasus, (see cat. nos. 14 and 18). Here, however, the weaver has created them with purposefully drawn sawtooth edges, so that they resemble devices commonly seen in Anatolian and Iranian kilims, which often use this step-like effect to create diagonal elements. The soft, luminous blue in the inside minor border, in subtle contrast to the stronger blue of the outer border, helps to contain the strong primary colors of this piece and to create a powerful visual statement. The stylized flowers in the minor borders are seldom seen in later Caucasian pile weavings.

 

published at New England Rug Society, "THROUGH THE COLLECTOR'S EYE", Oriental Rugs from New England Private Collections