79247 Antique Caucasian Karabagh Rug, 04'03 x 08'08.
Woven beneath the shadowed peaks and vine-laced valleys of the Karabakh region, this early 20th-century Caucasian rug pulses with the living spirit of its homeland. At its heart unfolds a majestic procession of serrated medallions, arranged along a coral-red field like sacred talismans in a ceremonial path. Each stepped form, anchored in midnight black and outlined with dreamlike greens and ochres, evokes a mountain silhouette—a guardian presence echoed in the surrounding motifs: birds mid-song, antlered rams, and tribal blossoms blooming in stylized abstraction. These elemental symbols are not merely decorative but echoes of ancestral memory, preserved through the loom as a visual language passed from hand to hand.
The captivating composition balances wild symbolism with structural grace, as geometric blossoms and tribal rosettes fill the field in rhythmic harmony. The whimsical menagerie—quadrupeds with angular limbs, perched birds, and star-like rosettes—introduces a folkloric lyricism, inviting the viewer to read this precious work of art not as ornament, but as oral tradition inscribed in wool. The saturated red-coral field, mellowed by time, cradles each motif like aged parchment, radiating warmth and quiet dignity. Subtle abrash lends depth to the surface, capturing the passage of seasons and the endurance of beauty across generations.
In each corner spandrel, sky-blue contours sweep in like mountain winds, framing the medallions with a celestial lightness. Within these spandrels, pinwheel rosettes and Ram’s Horn extensions blossom outward, symbolic of vitality, protection, and the eternal spiral of life. Their presence softens the rug’s geometry with a dreamlike flourish, suggesting not just spatial containment but spiritual elevation. These luminous corners serve as visual exhalations, lifting the viewer’s eye beyond the symmetry of the central axis and into realms of deeper meaning and imagination.
Enclosing the field is a border rich with ceremonial grace—a sinuous vine scroll in the Samovar tradition unfurls with steady momentum, flanked by twin guard bands of abstract florals and protective S-motifs. This border forms not just a frame but a sanctuary, embracing the central tableau with rhythm and repose. With every knot, the weaver offered not only artistry, but a message—a legacy woven in wool, resonating with the quiet strength of the Caucasus. This one-of-a-kind masterpiece is not merely a floor covering but a living heirloom, a poetic map of memory, tradition, and the enduring spirit of place.
- Abrash. Age Wear.
- Hand knotted wool.
- Made in Old Russia (Caucasus).
- Measures: 04'03 x 08'08.
- Pile Height: 0.22 of an inch.
- Date: 1910's. Early 20th Century.
