Shirvan Marasali prayer rug
the eastern Caucasus
circa 1880
Size: 147 x 111 cm
Few 19th century rugs can match the immediate visual splendour of village rugs from the Caucasus.
They are admired universally for their vitality and spontaneity of design and colour.
This small rug is particularly beautiful with clear crisp colours and elegant flower/lattice field design.
The strange geometric comb and perhaps anthropomorphic forms below the prayer arch (mihrab) are intriguing.
Unfortunately we cannot climb inside the weaver’s head.
