A CAUCASIAN PRAYER RUG |

Overall measurements: 124cm across the top, 120cm across the bottom, 155cm the left hand side, 157cm the right hand side. Pile varies from 2mm down to knotheads overall. Pile at highest in outer borders. Upper end with outer guard rebuilt to approx half its depth. Outer barber pole cane narrow guards partially rebuilt and new sidecords, browns restored. Lower end with spot repiling and partially restored caned guards on edge. Localised re-piling in the central medallion (couple of spots in the white) overall the pile of the medallion looks to be original as does the field. One dark oil based (?) stain on the hooked tree to the right hand side of the central medallion, as visible in photograph.Trimmed and secured fringing. Lovely flexible handle due to silk foundation. Rug has had professional attention and is now ready to use or display.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The design of the present lot and the addition of silk wefts mark it a one of a rare group of finely woven and dated South Caucasian prayer rugs, see Ralph Kaffel, Caucasian Prayer Rugs, London, 1998, p. 177. These early prayer rugs only vary very slightly in design however some examples are smaller in scale, for example one sold Christie’s London, 10 October 2008, lot 60. Usually they are more in tune with the scale of the present example.   Few examples have appeared in the marketplace, the present is most like one sold Sotheby’s New York, 10 December 2007, lot 110, in each case the field is broken only by the outline of the ‘mihrab’, as opposed to the example sold Rippon Boswell, Weisbaden, 14 November 1992, lot 140.

The present lot is marked slightly apart by its use of clean vibrant colouring and if the date is to be read AH 1213 then very slightly older than that sold Sotheby’s New York which was recorded as the second eldest of the group. A related example published example can also be seen Herrmann. E., Asiatische Teppich- und Textilkunst, 2, 1990, no.31, pp.70-1.