Carpet
17th century (made)
| Place of origin |
Woolen 'dragon' carpet
WARP: white wool, some brown, Z2S; depressed, 20-21 knots per inch (80-84 per dm).
WEFT: wool, Z2S; 2 shoots after each row of knots, 10 rows per inch (40 per dm).
PILE: wool, symmetrical, tied around 2 warp threads, 100-105 per sq. in (1600-1680 per sq. dm.)
8 colours: red, yellow, green, blue, purple, light purple, probably dark brown, white
SIDE FINISH: not original, rewoven
END FINISH: not original, rewoven.
DESIGN: Field: dark brown ground divided into 3 rows of jagged diamonds and between them 2 rows of irregular large, waisted diamonds. The pseudo lattice is composed of horizontal zigzags of elongated, stylized leaves: 3 zigzags in yellow, one in red and blue, and 1 in blue and green. Each leaf has a central stem bearing rosettes. The yellow ones also contain pairs of cloud bands in 2 colours. In the long panels are mythical beasts. The topmost pair are spotted dragons with floral tails. In each of the lower is a pair of embattled animals. In the outer triangles are, at the bottom, elaborate cones; there is a third one in the centre at the top, and above, a palmette, a composite blossom and, at the top, a pair of small spotted animals. Further large blossoms link the zigzags. The motifs in the right hand of the carpet seem to be less finely woven - details are lacking. It suggests 2 different weavers working from a drawing, not a cartoon.
Border: missing from bottom and from top right hand corner. It has been rewoven. White ground with an angular floral meander. The downward diagonals are decorated hexagonals. The meander links these with large yellow rosettes from which sprout purple and blue lilies.
(analysed through glass). 10.3.1999
WARP: white wool, some brown, Z2S; depressed, 20-21 knots per inch (80-84 per dm).
WEFT: wool, Z2S; 2 shoots after each row of knots, 10 rows per inch (40 per dm).
PILE: wool, symmetrical, tied around 2 warp threads, 100-105 per sq. in (1600-1680 per sq. dm.)
8 colours: red, yellow, green, blue, purple, light purple, probably dark brown, white
SIDE FINISH: not original, rewoven
END FINISH: not original, rewoven.
DESIGN: Field: dark brown ground divided into 3 rows of jagged diamonds and between them 2 rows of irregular large, waisted diamonds. The pseudo lattice is composed of horizontal zigzags of elongated, stylized leaves: 3 zigzags in yellow, one in red and blue, and 1 in blue and green. Each leaf has a central stem bearing rosettes. The yellow ones also contain pairs of cloud bands in 2 colours. In the long panels are mythical beasts. The topmost pair are spotted dragons with floral tails. In each of the lower is a pair of embattled animals. In the outer triangles are, at the bottom, elaborate cones; there is a third one in the centre at the top, and above, a palmette, a composite blossom and, at the top, a pair of small spotted animals. Further large blossoms link the zigzags. The motifs in the right hand of the carpet seem to be less finely woven - details are lacking. It suggests 2 different weavers working from a drawing, not a cartoon.
Border: missing from bottom and from top right hand corner. It has been rewoven. White ground with an angular floral meander. The downward diagonals are decorated hexagonals. The meander links these with large yellow rosettes from which sprout purple and blue lilies.
(analysed through glass). 10.3.1999
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Carpet; Carpet, wool knotted pile on wool foundation, 'dragon' design within lattice, Shirvan or Karabagh, Azerbaijan, 1600-1700 |
| Physical description | Woolen 'dragon' carpet WARP: white wool, some brown, Z2S; depressed, 20-21 knots per inch (80-84 per dm). WEFT: wool, Z2S; 2 shoots after each row of knots, 10 rows per inch (40 per dm). PILE: wool, symmetrical, tied around 2 warp threads, 100-105 per sq. in (1600-1680 per sq. dm.) 8 colours: red, yellow, green, blue, purple, light purple, probably dark brown, white SIDE FINISH: not original, rewoven END FINISH: not original, rewoven. DESIGN: Field: dark brown ground divided into 3 rows of jagged diamonds and between them 2 rows of irregular large, waisted diamonds. The pseudo lattice is composed of horizontal zigzags of elongated, stylized leaves: 3 zigzags in yellow, one in red and blue, and 1 in blue and green. Each leaf has a central stem bearing rosettes. The yellow ones also contain pairs of cloud bands in 2 colours. In the long panels are mythical beasts. The topmost pair are spotted dragons with floral tails. In each of the lower is a pair of embattled animals. In the outer triangles are, at the bottom, elaborate cones; there is a third one in the centre at the top, and above, a palmette, a composite blossom and, at the top, a pair of small spotted animals. Further large blossoms link the zigzags. The motifs in the right hand of the carpet seem to be less finely woven - details are lacking. It suggests 2 different weavers working from a drawing, not a cartoon. Border: missing from bottom and from top right hand corner. It has been rewoven. White ground with an angular floral meander. The downward diagonals are decorated hexagonals. The meander links these with large yellow rosettes from which sprout purple and blue lilies. (analysed through glass). 10.3.1999 |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Production | Referred to in: Handwoven Carpets: Oriental and European by A F Kendrick & C E C Tattersall, pub. Benn Brothers, Ltd. London 1922, ps. 16, 104. , Pl. 8 Early Caucasian Carpets in Turkey Vol. II, by Serare Yetkin, pub. Oguz Press, 1978, Pg. 14, illus. 123. c.f. McMullan (1972) Pl. XII "Caucasian, so-called 'dragon rugs... no existing piece is earlier than the 17th c. except for the Berlin 'Graf'... design highly reminiscent of the Scythian animal style". NB> the 'para' lattice with the yellow zigzag but with the red more often as a leaf bracket; and the flowing border. Also "Caucasian.. produced in the same area#2, pls. XIV, NB. colours: 3 blues, 2 purples. Erdman (1976/1955) illus. 97 and 98 "Caucasus with twofold lattice design ("dragon carpet") 16th c. and for 98 the same description, 17th c. NB. interlocked 'cloudbands' in the former and their possible evolution in the latter. Illus. 98 shows the possibility of minor borders - and with an 'S' motif, though simplifield. Yetkin, Vol. 4 (1978) illus. 122 (p. 13). NB dark brown ground, 'pine cone' motif and interlocking 'cloudband' on leaves. also c.f. the border. also:- Illus 118, "Dragon carpet (Graf)... found in Damascus", NB. 'pine cones', interlocking floral motif on lower leaves, border. also:- Illus. 139 "Dragon carpet (Sharples).. one can see the unwinding of the lozenge design". NB decorated 'S' border. also:- Illus. 127, "Dragon carpet (Hewett Myers) dated 1110 (or 1101) A.H.... not very faithful copy". NB emphasis on the lattice and the decorated 'S' border. |
| Bibliographic reference | Michael Franses and Robert Pinner (introduction by Donald King) "Caucasian Rugs in the Victoria and Albert Museum", HALI pp.95-115: fig.1. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 420-1906 |
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| Record created | June 15, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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