Shirvan is a
former Khanate in the Caucasus. It is populated by primarily
Azeri Turks. But there was a significant population of Armenians in the
area west of Shemakha. Shirvan along with Kuba
and Derbent are the primary Azeri weaving area. Shirvans are not as
fine as Kubas but are
better made than Derbends. Gennerally Shirvans are short pile rugs with
a flat or near flat back.
Antique Shirvan Rug with floral Botehs It has a date using
the old Persian lunar corrected date that was discontinued in the
1920s. No repairs, even wear, full borders, it is in amazing condition.
It was purchased by the owner's grandmother on a road trip through
Persia in the early 1900s.
Where did the Akstafa rugs go? I decided that even though Akstafa Rugs are Azeri rugs
structurally akin to Shirvan rugs they are woven in western Azerbaijan
and Southeast Georgia and belong in their own group: Guide to Akstafa Rugs.
Two Cord Selvage in an Antique hirvan Rug
As soon as I saw this fragment it made me think of my dear friend and
teacher (the late) Uncle Jimmy Keshishian. I took the Oriental Rug
section of the appraisal Science course at George Washington University
from Uncle Jimmy and I still draw back on what he taught me. When you
see this selvage think Shirvan. Uncle Jimmy's brother Harold Keshishian
has a saying that I like, "If you want to know what sort of car it is,
read the hubcaps." In other words look for the easy to spot identifying
clues.
Shirvan two cord white
cotton selvage sometimes blue. Wool in very old examples, cotton in
newer. Normally the same material and color as the wefts.
Ends: Upper – fringe.
Lower loops. Loops often woven into band See Mallett
Flat back
Warps are flat or mildly
depressed. 2 ply warps often barber-poled the lighter ply may be
cotton.
Notes: Stone mentions
averages of 113 kpsi and average size of 28 square feet. Oriental
Rug Lexicon. He also mentions Akstafas as a type of Shirvan
that averages 107 kpsi and average size of 34 square feet. Oriental
Rug Lexicon
Fireworshippers' Temple at Atashgah, not far from
Baku's International Airport, was built by Zoroastrians (Parsees from
India). Today a fire fed by gas into the center of the cupola burns
constantly. 10.2 An Overview - Baku: City that Oil Built
- by Farid Alakbarov
Eastern Shirvan has been an impotant area for
thousands of years. To the left we see a fire temple near Baku.
