AN AKSTAFA NICHE RUG, CENTRAL CAUCASUS

Sotheby’s New York, 1 June 2006, Lot 14

Herrmann notes in respect of this rug, “Whilst for many carpets of the Akstafa prayer group the dark blue colour of the moon is used for the inner field, I like the white ground colour here, which goes one step further in the cosmic circle by using the colour of purification. The form of the niche has a complex background in as far as a regular octagon has been modified by the angle ∠ 3:4 (36.87°) instead of 45°. The guardian dogs at the passageway get defined by the upper tip of triangle 3:4:5. The next test on the path is the comb” See diagram showing in red: regular octagon 45° - in green: modified octagon 36.87°