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Eagle design Rug
Southern Caucasus
Karabakh area
Chelaberd
Circa 1870
245 x 165 cm (8’ x 5’5”)
Symmetrically knotted wool pile on a wool
foundation
Rugs having these sunburst medallions are often
called Eagle Kazaks, although they are now more
often correctly attributed to Chelaberd, located
in the Karabakh region. Like Chondzoresk
(‘Cloudband Kazak’) and Kasim Ushag
rugs that come from the same province, Chelaberd
rugs are characterised by a strong palette, a
silky lush pile and a set system of borders.
These borders are almost invariantly composed of
six-pointed red and blue stars connected by a
thin vinery on an ivory ground flanked by
blue-black zig-zag guard stripes. Similar to the
two above-mentioned typologies, the eagle design
derives from seventeenth century Caucasian silk
embroideries and is seen on the pattern of a few
rare early Caucasian rugs of the so-called
‘transitional’ type (see for example
C.G. Ellis, Early Caucasian Rugs, (Washington
1975), plate 15: 61). The large width of the
present example allows for a more spacious
design, permitting the eagles to spread their
wings to thier widest extent. The exceptional
condition of this piece offers us a chance to
fully appreciate nineteenth century Caucasian
weaving art at its best.
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