Antique Kuba rug with Afshan gül motif, late 19th / early 20th century, Southern Kuba Region, North East Azerbaijan.

176 x 130 cm 244
 

Similar to the previous piece, this one has a concentric lozenge in the middle of the dark-blue central field. A number of different ornaments are symmetrically grouped around it. According to L. Kerimov, the white square islimi patterns (arabesques) which the natives call "the three-legged one" is characteristic of this group. Authors of Western literature refer to them as "fork meanders" or "leaf fork meanders". Doris Eder called these carpets "leaf fork Kuba" because of a lack of information on the provenance (see Doris Eder, Kaukasische Teppiche, Munich 1979, pp. 288-291). She quotes L. Kerimov who regards the four whirls around a central pole or the quadruple arrangement of the sajayaq motif as an ancient cult symbol (loc. cit., p. 289).
The main border consists of a simple sequence of octagons on a light ground into which ashiks and/or dogajiks are woven. A carnations border as well as star and vine meanders surround the main border. A reciprocal border of crenels complements the carpet.
 

Warps: Wool,Z3S, ivory.
Wefts: Cotton, Z2, white, 2 wefts: 1st straight, 2nd waved.
Pile: Wool,Z2,Pile Height:5mm. Knots: Symmetrical 3, \, 65 °, H50xV40 = 2,000 Kn/dm2.
Handle: Velours, almost thin, ribbed. Upper End: c. 2.5 cm wide wool+cotton simple tapestry weave; warps are cross-braided in groups in one row at the end. Selvedge: Thin, wand and while cotton shirazi Literature: L. Kerimov II, colour ill. 23.

published at Siyawouch Azadi "Azerbaijani Caucasian rugs" plate no: 46