Page 191 - ART OF THE ISLAMIC AND INDIAN WORLDS Carpets, Ceramics Objects, Christie's London Oct..27, 2022

■*175
A SILK CAUCASIAN PRAYER RUG
18TH CENTURY
Silk embroidered on a chequered plain weave
ground, faint surface marks, backed, overall very
good condition
6ft.7in. x 4ft. (200cm. x 121cm.)
£15,000-20,000 US$18,000-23,000
€18,000-23,000
Until recently, little was written or recorded of
this fascinating group of silk Azerbaijan textiles
that have been collected by a small number of
appreciative collectors but which have rather
dipped beneath the radar. There are relatively few
examples in circulation, and even fewer in good
condition. The recent publication, Stars of the
Caucasus, London, 2017, compiled by a number
of respected academics, attempts to unpick the
variety, beauty and technical ability of these finely
woven textiles.
Opinions have varied considerably on their dating
but most consider them to have been woven after
the fall of the Safavid dynasty towards the end of
the 18th century but before the sharp decline in
silk production, due to blighted mulberry trees in
Gilan, in the middle of the 19th century, (Michael
Franses, op.cit, Chapter 4, p.100).
Two different embroidery techniques were
employed in Caucasian and Azerbaijan
embroideries, the cross-stitch and a diagonal long
stitch; ours uses the latter (Jennifer Wearden, "A
Synthesis of Contrasts", HALI, Issue 59, pp.102-111).
Due to the nature of cross-stitch, the designs using
that method often followed a geometric pattern of
angular form, (Christie's, London, Battilossi Tappeti
d'antiquariato, 11 February 1998, lot 81). With long-
stitch however, softer and more fluid forms can be
created as seen in the naturalistic representation of
the birds and flowers in the present example. The
same fluidity can be seen in an early 18th century
example in the Victoria and Albert Museum,
London, (inv. no.192-1989).
The vast majority of textile designs were
imprinted onto a cotton foundation with the
aid of a resin or non-fast dye but here the use
of a black and white checked ground has been
employed. This particular ground can be found
on a small number of other published examples
(E. Heinrich Kirchheim et al., Orient Stars, A
Carpet Collection, Stuttgart and London, 1993, panels in New Julfa, notably those in the Church For a comparable example but with a yellow
pp.68-69, pl.42; Ulrich Schurmann, Caucasian of St. George, dating from 1619 (John Carswell, cartouche border with peacocks see Stars of the
Rugs, Braunschweig, 1961, pp.350-1, pl.138, and New Julfa - The Armenian Churches and other Caucasus, op. cit., p.17, fig.1.5. Another with an
one sold in these Rooms, 6 April 2006, lot 107). Buildings, Oxford, 1968, pl.20). The Church of the abrashed corn-flower blue border, sold in these
It would appear likely that this was to serve as an Holy Mother of God dated to 1613 also contains Rooms, 25 October 2007, lot 56, and a similar
alternative source of guidance. tile panels containing vases springing from cusped example but was with a green border and leaf
arabesques, and flanked by a variety of animal design was sold in these Rooms, 25 June 2020,
This prayer panel is one of those with the most combat groups as well as floral sprays (John lot 160. A further example with the addition of
curvilinear designs of very clear Safavid inspiration Carswell, op. cit., pl.26). The present embroidery a decorative flowering vase at the lower end of
if not actual instruction. The drawing and in appears to have been made very much following the the field, of which there is another similar in the
particular the proportions of the prayer arch are same style, although how long it took these designs Nasser D. Khalili collection, sold at Christie’s
however very close to those of cuerda seca tile to filter through to the Caucasus is hard to say. London, 6 October 2015, lot 101.

188 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty 189
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.