Antique Lesghi Star Rug

Originally I wrote:

"This is an Antique Lesghi Star Rug in good condition. The design is a very powerful traditional design from the Caucasus. The Lesghi people lived in the north of the Caucasus and were a tribe that came under the control and domination of the Czarist Russians early in the 19 century. So can we then attribute this rug to the Lesghi? I do not think so. This rug is latter 19th century and by that point this design has spread throughout the Caucasus. I am inclined to attribute this to Shirvan area in the latter 19th century. "

Structure: Symmetrical. 7 knots per horizontal inch and 10 knots per vertical inch. 70 per square inch (1085 per square decimeter). Depressed warps.

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 3 ply tan wool.

Weft: 2 shots white cotton.

Pile: 2 Wool singles.

Ends: Warp fringe.

Selvages: Reduced

Further Notes: This rug is in good condition. This rug is low to the knot collars. There are a few historical repairs and there is slight reduction to the sides but not into the outer guard borders. Slight fading to one end.

Direct Scan Left

Initially the Czarist strategy was to use Cossacks to encroach into the North Caucasus. Persian control was weak and the Cossacks moved against tribes such as the Lesghi. A Cossack was a descendent of the Golden Horde who left the authority of the Horde and over a period of time became both Christian and allies of the Czarist Government. They were moved to the Caucasian border where they took land and paved the way for the Czarist assimilation of the Caucasus. The Lesghi were under the control of the Czar by 1830.

Try as they might the Russians were never able to elimnate ethnic differences. Even after 170 years of Rusification the Lesghis are an identifyable ethnic group and with the information coming out of the Russian sphere of influence makes it easier and easier to uderstand them.