Antique Armenian Karabagh (Artsakh) Rug

Origin: An Armenian village in the mountainous region of Karabagh (Artsakh), South Caucasus. A rug with a comparable field design can be seen in Weavers, Merchants and Kings: The Inscribed Rugs of Armenia, plate #28.

Age: 1890s to early 1900s, ~120-130 years old.

Design: An all over design of diagonal stripes with eternity symbols. The primary border, which is used extensively on Karabagh rugs, features a star blossom motif, which also creates the form of a Jerusalem cross. Protective spiked secondary borders which resemble mountains.

Colors: All natural plant dyes, an unusually limited color palette with extensive use of natural undyed shades of ivory and cream colored wool. Shades of blue from Indigo (indigofera tinctoria, also known as true indigo.) Shades of red from madder root (rubia tinctorum, or dyer’s madder). Yellow has several possible sources including pomegranate rind, onion skins, vine leaves, and weld (reseda luteola). Greens from overdying blue and yellow. Natural undyed ivory. Black/brown probably from dark wool also dyed with indigo and/or walnut husk.

Foundation: Natural wool warp of several colors twisted together, two shoots of brown wool weft.

Pile: Wool pile of medium depth.

Knotting: Symmetrical

Size: 3 feet by 5 feet 6 inches.

Condition: Fair condition with areas of wear and missing borders on the top and bottom. Both ends have been secured.