'Akstafa' Salyan rug

CODE: SHRAKS08
Size (metric): 150x195cm
Size (ft): 4'11"x6'4"
Area: 2.92 m²
Density: 170 000 knots per square meter, totally ~ over 500 000 knots
Weaving period: four months

Colors: madder red, midnight blue, navy blue, cerulean blue, gold yellow, yellow, aubergine, old purple/mauve, sage green, variegated medium green, ivory, dark brown, light brown, orange brown.

Dyes: 100% natural dyes: madder, weld (Reseda Luteola), indigo, pomegranate skins, walnut husks, natural brown sheep wool, natural ivory sheep wool

Materials: Handcarded and handspun wool for pile, ivory wool warps and ivory wool wefts (two shots) - wool on wool

Ends: thin plaited fringes

Knots: Gördes (Turkish, symmetrical)

Pile height: 0.5-0.6cm

Inscriptions: Yusif, 1438 (=2017 weaving date), tamga (tribal seal) of Afshar tribe

Weaver: Nargiz

Handwoven in Azerbaijan

Design: Inspired by a rare 1870s antique Salyan Akstafa rug design. Click here to read the story

This archaic rich drawing shows peacocks or mythical simurgh birds (ancient Iranian benevolent, mythical flying creature), camels, deers, houses, different human being and animal figures, various bird motives, tribal elements, tamgas, flower heads, tree of life etc around two central octagonal medallions.

Simurgh (ancient Iranian benevolent, mythical flying creature) depicted in Zakarīyā al-Qazwīnī's "Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt" (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) book, XIII (13^th) century. From a 17th century copy

Two simurgh birds depicted on the portal of Nadir Divan-Begi madrasah (part of Lab-i Hauz complex), XVII century. Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Simurgh or peacock motif

For more information about the above rug or to place an order please email vd@azerbaijanrugs.com (Baku, Azerbaijan) or ra@azerbaijanrugs.com  (San Francisco Bay Area). We will get back to you within 24 hours or less.