Antique Derbend prayer rug with the  macramé-like multi-knotted warp fringes, second half 19th century, 104 x 122 cm, 3'5" x 4'0"

This rug and three others form a very small, distinct sub-group among the numerous examples of northeastern Caucasian ivory-ground prayer rugs. The four rugs share so many characteristics that they must be closely connected, possibly as the products of one workshop. The general layout of this rug, with its wide, crisply drawn prayer arch, is common to all; they also share an identical main border of dragon 's' forms framed by two minor borders containing 'Solomon' (eight-pointed stars enclosed by octagons. Although the flora varies, all four feature unusual fringed diamonds in the field, seen here in the third row down from the apex of the arch. Two of the rugs (this example included) have an added border of stylized "S" forms on a golden ground.

The example published by Herrmann (Kaukasische Teppichkunst, plate 12} has been attributed to Kuba, while the others are assigned to Shirvan or Daghestan. The ends of Herrmann's and the pre sent piece consist of fine white kilims finished in macramé-like multi-knotted warp fringe, a feature of both Kuba and Daghestan rugs.

published Ralph Kaffel's Caucasian Prayer Rugs, plate 62
lit: published Ralph Kaffel's Caucasian Prayer Rugs, plate 62