About the Antique Rugs of the Future Project

 Sheep Breeds of Azerbaijan

 Shearing, Sorting, Washing, Carding, Spinning

 "The advantages of handspun yarn to machine spun yarn"

 Rediscovery of Ancient Natural Dyes		 Our Natural Dyestuffs

 Mordants

 Difference between synthetically and naturally dyed rugs

 Weaving and Finishing Steps

 Galleries of ARFP Caucasian Azerbaijani Rugs
 

back to "An Educational Guide to Antique Shirvan Akstafa Prayer rugs" main page
 

Antique Caucasian Shirvan "Akstafa" prayer rug, Southern Shirvan Region, Azerbaijan. 6'.7"x3'.4" (201x102 cm). H. Manoyan Antique Rugs
The field is centred by a pole medallion of six hooked diamonds and echoed by en suite triangular hooked forms along the inner edge of the border.The field is filled with geometric devices and a four small animals. The niche arch is square as is the prevalent Akstafa practice. The ivory hooked cartouche border is also canonical. The closest published version in Eberhart Herrmann's Seltene Orientteppiche Number 8, page 95, plate 39 lacks the niche arch.