Antique Shirvan Prayer rug, Shirvan Region, Azerbaijan. 1875-1890. 89 x 131 cm. published Ralph Kaffel's Caucasian Prayer Rugs, plate 73

The design of this Shirvan prayer rug, with its wide diagonal stripes, is heavily influenced by similar rugs from the Genje district. The Genje rugs, however, have cooler colours (tending to blues, greens and whites) and usually feature 'hand prints' in the spandrels. While the arrangement of the small hooked squares inside the stripes is typical of both Genje and Shirvan. this is not the only decoration to be used. Boteh and stars are employed in Genje pieces, while small crosses or dots are used in Shirvan rugs. This rug is a very good example, albeit of a type that is not particularly rare.