4 x 8.4 Antique Caucasian Karachoph Kazak Rug, Southwest Caucasus, Circa 1880
Antique Kazak rugs were woven in the southwest Caucasus, sometimes by Armenian weavers, since the early 19th century if not earlier. Most antique Kazak rugs one sees on the market date to the late 19th or early 20th century and this example, belonging to the “Karachoph” group, appears to be earlier than most seen on a regular basis.
The denim blue field is decorated with medallions and the barber pole or candy cane alternating stripe trim around the central medallion is a particularly charming feature. The red and green Reciprocal Trefoil trim also seen in the central medallion is an additional strong feature. This design is often seen in the border designs of antique Caucasian rugs.
The ivory major border appears to be a simplistic version of a “Kufic” border, sometimes seen in much more elaborate form in rugs from the northeast Caucasus Kuba district.
Areas of repiling and/or reweaving; rewoven ends; replaced selvedge; and other restoration.
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