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48 Biliji
Divichi district, Kuba 183 X 135 cm Around 1880
The midnight-blue central field is ornamented with rows of serrated giant
palmettes. These are executed in lighter shades of red and orange, whereas
the giant leaves, which lie over them like a wreath, are all designed in
dark colours like dark-blue and dark-green. Other motifs like stepped
squares (Memling göl) lozenges, rosettes and above all alternating pairs of
animals surround this vertical row in the middle of the carpet.
L. Kerimov sees one animal pair as dogs. In his opinion, the ancestors of
the Azerbaijani who were fire worshippers (Zoroastrians), venerated them.
But even Muslim farmers and nomads prized sheep dogs which they treated very
well. Rows of geometrically-designed arabesque-palmettes are arranged to the
right and left of the vertical central row. The classic Kufi (shami) main
border is framed by two minor borders with blossoms. Within this border
groups is a white-ground minor border with star-and-vine meander design.
Warps: Wool,Z3S,light ivory.
Wefts: Wool + Cotton, Z 2, dark brown or ivory + white, 2 wefts: 1st tight,
2nd waved.
Pile: Wool,Z2, Pile Height:3.5mm.
Knots: Sy 3, \, 45 °, H 70 x V38 = c. 2,660 Knots/dm2.
Handle: Velvet-like, not thin, ribbed. Upper End: c. 1.5 cm wool flat-woven
end, 2 blackish-brown, rows of countered wool soumak, then warp-threads in
groups braided diagonally in 4 rows, fringes emerging at the top rear side.
Lower End: Like upper end, but midnight-blue soumak rows.
Set: Round, thick, dark blue wool shirazi, not original.
Colours: 10; crimson, dark pink, light pink, brownish-orange, dark yellow,
dark reddish-brown, blackish-brown (oxidised), blue, green, ivory.
Condition: Except for the selvedges and two colour-treated places on the
upper end, good..
Remarks: In terms of quality and colour, this is a successful piece, even if
the design on the central field is somewhat simplified.
Literature: L Kerimov II, ill. 148, p. 180; L. Kerimov VI, colour plate 12;
U. Schurmann, loc.cit., p. 223, No 79 pictures an earlier (1274 = 1857),
outstanding piece.
published at Siyawouch Azadi "Azerbaijani Caucasian
rugs" plate no: 48
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