Lot Essay
South Caucasian rugs of this design commonly exhibit a met hane or plain field composition synonymous with, but not limited to, the Talish region. However, the border elements of the present example, which Eberhart Herrmann argues derive from early animal motifs, are more congruent with old Kazak weavings. Two almost identical nineteenth century examples share very similar borders and field colours with the present lot (E. Herrmann, Seltene Orientteppiche VII, Munich, 1985, pl.23, p.61; Friedrich Spuhler et al, Old Eastern Carpets: Masterpieces in German Private Collections, Munich 1978, pl.55, p.141). Neither of those examples, however, possess the field arrangement of delicately balanced polychrome rosettes of our rug, which can be seen in larger scale on a Kazak rug sold in these Rooms, 5 April 2011, lot 216.