202 - Karabakh Rug (warp, weft, and pile in wool), Southern Caucasus.

Karabakh Rug (warp, weft, and pile in wool), Southern Caucasus. Circa 1930–1960 (Signs of wear, previous restorations, fraying, holes, missing sections, and likely reduced in size.) Length: 603 cm; Width: 182 cm This large carpet (in terms of size) features a floral design with bouquets of roses on a black background. A wide black border with a garland of multicolored flowers frames the composition. Karabakh means “black garden” and refers to a region extending across the southern part of Azerbaijan. It became an important center of weaving, with the establishment of numerous workshops as early as the 17th century, driven by Muslim and Christian artisans. During the 19th century, carpets featuring European-style roses and based on French designs were produced there. The presence of populations of Kurdish and Armenian origin, located mainly around Shusha in the South Caucasus, contributed to the spread of Karabakh carpet weaving. Karabakh carpets feature a wide variety of designs. There are three main types: - Small prayer rugs adorned with an arrowhead-shaped mihrab and decorated with multicolored bands, botehs, or Persian-inspired floral designs; - Rectangular rugs decorated with stylized botehs, palmettes, bouquets of roses, and mina khani motifs (composed of large, rounded flowers resembling daisies connected by stems. This motif is likely a Kurdish interpretation of the Herati motif) or Herati patterns on a dark blue or red background; - A rug adorned with a series of central hexagonal medallions with white zigzag outlines. Expert: Alexandre CHEVALIER