1337 AH / 1918 AD dated antique Kuba Karagashli rug, Lowland Kuba Region, Chay Karagashli village,  Devechi (Divichi) District, North East Azerbaijan, 118 x 85 cm

Te alternating rows of fork-vines (islimi) and large plane-palmettes on a midnight-blue ground form a pattern characteristic of this group, L. Kerimov reports that the weavers of these carpets call the islimi "kusbashi" (bird head). Between the islimi, white cross-palmettes appear. In the second row, an octagon with four C or crescent motifs is included instead of a cross-palmette. Two other medallions of this type are positioned at the bottom. The varying structure of the rosettes that appear in the palmettes are of particular interest as compared to the two that can be seen after the first pair of palmettes, They have a much more complex design. If these were not included, one would be inclined to conclude that the weaver design ed the less complex form later because she either neglected or forgot it or she did not understand it. The main border on a red ground shows the wine glass pattern. L. Kerimov reports that it is called shamdan (candleabra) or mashaal (torch) border. Two small, white-ground minor borders flank the main border.

Warp: Wool, Z 3 S, ivory

Weft: Wool + Cotton, Z 2, ivory + white (whether a thread is occasionally from silk could not be established in spite of a fire test), 2 wefts: 1st tight, 2nd waved.

Pile: Wool, Z 2, pale blue, but also pale green, occasionally Z 3-4

Pile Height: 2 mm

Knots: Symmetrical 3, \, 40 °, Horizontal: 70, Vertical 35 = c. 2450 knots / per square decimeter

Upper end: c. 1 cm blue cotton simple tapestry weave, 2 cm groups of warp-threads knotted in staggered rows.

Lower end: like upper end.

Selvedge: 0.5 cm light blue cotton shirazi in figure of eight wrapping around 2 ribs with supplemental threads.

Literature: L Kerimov II, ill. 134. p. 161: Richard E. Wright, Rugs and Flatweaves of the Transcaucasus, Pittsburg 1980, plate 42. Ulrich Shurmann discussed and pictured one of the most beautiful pieces of this group, loc. cit., plate 285, color plate 108.

published at Siyawouch Azadi "Azerbaijani Caucasian rugs"