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Sunburst carpet. Karabagh or Shirvan Province (Beylerbeyi), early 18th
century, Safavid
Period, Azerbaijan. |
| Influenced by Safavid and appearing at the same time as the dragon carpets, the floral carpets were made in large, elongated sizes and differ in their coarser knotting and their colors, which are not usually strong. These carpets feature a wide variety of floral designs in geometric style, all based on three models. The floral type, rather than the dragon type, continued to be manufactured in the later Caucasian production. |
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This first compositional element shows traces of Safavid influence in the
budding palmette: The motif is easily recognizable, though it is rendered
geometrically and in larger form. It is repeated on the lower side of the
carpet in the opposite orientation:
The outside of this medallion is composed of four large, serrated leaves, almost wide bands. This is reminiscent of the floral grid that decorated dragon carpets, arranged in pairs as if to form two curved parentheses around the central motif, which consist of an oblique, geometric flower:
This medallion, consisting of a central geometric flower surrounded by a typical white corolla akin to a flaming sun, gives the name of "Sunburst" to this second floral type. The motif was reworked in the 19th century in the so-called Chelaberd, or eagle Kazak, carpets:
Typical of the floral carpet type is the narrow main border with a light ground, embellished with plant tendrils or small geometric figures, as in this carpet, which has a characteristic "S"-shaped motif:
Small elements, such as stylized flowers and leaves, are scattered to fill the red field of the carpet:
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