Antique Shirvan Marasali prayer rug, Azerbaijan, early 19th century, 106 x 140 cm

This is the second of the 'curved arch' black Marasalis published at Ralph Kaffel's Caucasian Prayer rug. Although obviously from the same family as the carpets pictured in plates 89 and 91, this rug has a very unusual shade of abrashed celadon green in one of the boteh. The prayer arch is narrower and more compressed than in parallel pieces. As the owner, Jim Dixon, has pointed out that this rug was probably made in a workshop as a commission for an affluent client. The materials are of the highest quality, with brilliant colours, finely spun warps and strong, shiny pile. The weaver was obviously extremely skilled; indeed, as Dixon says, there are very few Caucasian carpets of this calibre left in the world.

Lit: Ralph Kaffel's Caucasian Prayer rug, plate 90