Colourful Vintage Shirvan Rug

This Vintage Handmade rug originates from the prolific carpet weaving area of Shrivan and has typical geometric motifs of Caucausian/Azerbaijan rugs and carpets. This piece is bold, handsome, and full of interesting motifs and devices as well as a clever use of colour contrasts.

The Origins of this Vintage Rug

This handwoven rug originates from Shirvan which is an eastern Caucasus province, district and city and hence also ornamental composition rug design. ( Present day Azerbaijan). This 'medallion Shirvan' vintage piece is handwoven with pure wool pile woven onto cotton warps. It has low pile which is commensurate with it's age of approxiamately 60 years. Shirvan Caucasian rugs are well known for having a number of motifs filling the field; particularly of stylized plant motifs as well as animal motifs interspersed throughout, as well as rosettes, stars and other geometric devices.

Features of Handmade Shirvan Rugs

These types of Caucasian Rugs often contain dense geometric ornamentation in field and borders with a great sense of colour combination and polychomy. Fields can be filled with a plethora of geometric patterning and stylized forms. This vintage rug has a multiple geometric border with ornate geometric detailing with ewers and eight pointed star motifs as well as guard stripes and inner and outer border with repeating patterns. Three magnificent lozenge medallions dominant the field surrounding by typical and traditional geometric patternings.

How was this Handknotted Rug Made?

Thus rug was woven on a loom where cotton warps threads were stretched from one end to another. The pile is created by different coloured handspun woollen yarn being knotted around each pair of warp threads that are side by side. The wool hangs in front in rows forming the pattern. After each row of knots is completed there are rows of plain weaving across the width of the rug ( these are called the weft threads). These weft threads hold the knots in place further and give an increased structure and robustness to the rug. After the rug was taken off the loom the pile  would hae been cut, the rug washed and sides and ends secured in a traditional fashion. 

Colourful Combinations

This vintage handmade rug still has cheerful colours full of contrasts. It has a stunning light teal/ peppermint coloured main field colour with additional colours of red, pink, dark blue, light blue, creamy white, golden yellow, as well as elements of rich chestnut browns. 

Key Details: 

• Country of Origin : Caucasus ( Present day Azerbaijan)
• Dimensions: 201 x 144cm / 6'7" x 4'9"
• Thickness: 6mm
• Pile: Wool, Handknotted, Low Pile (
• Warp: Cotton
• Age/ Condition: 60 years old, low pile ( see images 6, 7 & 8)