Early Karabagh "Sunburst" carpet fragment, Azerbaijan, 18th century, Victoria and Albert Museum

Date: 18th century (made)

Museum number: CIRC.376-1923

Gallery location: In store

WARP: wool; light brown and cream, sometimes plied together; Z2S; 16 threads per inch (67 per dm).

WEFT: light red wool; Z2S; 2 parallel threads per shoot and 2 shoots after each row of knots; 8 knots per inch (31 per dm).

PILE: wool; 7 colours: red, light red, yellow, blue, purple,brown, white; symmetrical knot tied around 2 threads; 64 per sq. inch (1038 per sq. dm).

SIDE FINISH: Left: cut. Right: missing.

END FINISH: missing

DESIGN: Field: blue ground with stylised palmettes and stylised, elongated, ragged leaves.

Main border (right side only): white ground with stylised floral meander with red buds.

Inner and Outer borders (right side only): red ground with elongated blue and brown 'S' motifs.

Catalogue date: 26.7.94