Antique Derbend prayer rug with the white field under the bridge-like mihrab is covered by a hexagonal lattice of deep blue lines enclosing multi-coloured, stylised, geometric cup palmettes, mid 19th century 

Lot: 118
Daghestan Prayer Rug

The splendid palette makes this beautiful prayer rug, probably woven in one of the villages of Daghestan in north eastern Transcaucasia, especially striking. The white field under the bridge-like mihrab is covered by a hexagonal lattice of deep blue lines enclosing multi-coloured, stylised, geometric cup palmettes. The intersection points of the lattice have been accentuated. The S designs of the border, crossed at an angle, have lately been interpreted as abstract representations of birds or dragons. Prayer rugs of similar design and composition were also woven in the areas of Kuba and Shirvan further to the south, but they diverge from Daghestan rugs in their slightly different style of drawing and palette. Low pile, reselvedged, somewhat reduced ends.
Origin: North East Caucasus
Size: 131 x 96 cm
Age: N/A
Estimate: 4.200,00 €
Literature: KAFFEL, RALPH, Caucasian Prayer Rugs. London 1998, no. 60

Catalogue: Major Spring Auction
Rippon Boswell
Auction date: Saturday 29. May 2010 at 03 PM