Early Shirvan "Akstafa" prayer rug, early 19th century, Southern Shirvan Region, Salyan (Saliani) District, Azerbaijan. - this is the most prettiest Salyan/"Akstafa" Prayer rug IMHO.

Lot: 32
Akstafa Prayer Rug Judging by its long, narrow format, this early prayer rug from the Shirvan region belongs to the Akstafa group. An unusual feature is the division of the field into a blue and a red section. The tree design ascending towards the arch on the dark blue ground ends abruptly below the mihrab; in the upper red section, the white, bridge-shaped arch is embedded in a pattern of octagonal flowers. Both the quality of the colours and the style of the drawing are indications of the rug’s great age, which is especially apparent in the “eagle’s beak” border, a vine decorated with abstract birds. – The outermost border is missing all around, low pile, several holes, minor repairs.
Origin: East Caucasus, Shirvan
Size: 146 x 77 cm
Age: Early 19th century
Estimate: 5800 €
Literature: ENGELHARDT, EVA, Teppiche. Die Bilder des Orients. Carpets. The pictures of the Orient. Volume II. Heidelberg 1978, no. 297

Major Spring Auction
Auction date: Saturday 23. May 2009 at 03 PM
Rippon Boswell