79325 Late 19th Century Antique Caucasian Shirvan Prayer Rug, 02'10 x 04'09.
This exquisite hand-knotted wool antique Caucasian Shirvan prayer rug, woven in the late 19th century, offers more than just visual beauty—it is a vessel of heritage, faith, and refined tribal artistry. With its commanding stepped mihrab, the central design evokes the sacred niche found in mosques, pointing toward Mecca and guiding the faithful in prayer. This signature element, central to Islamic art, is rendered here with geometric purity and symbolic grace, surrounded by an allover pattern of stylized tulip or cypress-like motifs—icons of spiritual awakening, divine beauty, and everlasting life. This sacred visual language is executed with rare restraint, marking it as a product of a pre-commercial weaving tradition from villages such as Maraza or Khinisli.
What distinguishes this prayer rug is the clarity and confidence of its composition. Each floral element blooms with a folkloric elegance, echoing the gardens of paradise described in Persian poetry. The deep madder reds, vegetal indigos, straw golds, and soft pistachio greens are all dyed from natural sources, lending the rug its timeless palette and a soft, noble patina developed over more than a century. Unlike later pieces crowded by overproduction, this exceptional work of art embodies the spirit of intention—each motif placed with care, each color blended with reverence for natural harmony.
The border composition speaks of prestige and protection. A powerful kufic-style meander—an ancient scriptural motif—wraps the field like a sacred verse, evoking themes of eternal life and spiritual order. Flanked by miniature floral borders rendered in jewel-toned precision, the layered guard bands reflect not just technical mastery but also the weaver's deep cultural literacy. This framing structure both protects and enhances the mihrab’s sanctity, reinforcing its role not just as a prayer tool, but as a spiritual portal.
This Shirvan prayer rug transcends decorative function to become an heirloom of rare distinction. To possess such a piece is to hold a woven scripture of tribal identity, religious devotion, and symbolic elegance—making it ideal for connoisseurs of heritage luxury. Its scarcity in both design and origin places it among museum-worthy collectibles, and its alignment with sacred geometry and natural dyes supports values of cultural preservation, sustainability, and social good. This is not merely a rug; it is a woven sanctuary—one that elevates any space it graces with quiet power and enduring reverence.
- Abrash.
- Hand knotted wool.
- Made in Caucasus Region.
- Measures: 02'10 x 04'09.
- Pile Height: 0.12 of an inch.
- Date: 1880's. Late 19th Century.
