Antique Marasali Prayer Rug

Antique Marasali Prayer Rug

In Caucasian Rugs COLOR is the Critical Factor. This Rug has outstanding COLOR.

This is a very rare type of Marasali Prayer Rug. This rug is part of a very small group of rugs and can be compared to Plate 94 in Ralph Kaffel's Caucasian Prayer Rugs a magnificent white ground Marsali from the Dixon collection. The field design and the borders are very similar. Of course this rug has had its borders rebuilt where needed and is complete whereas the Dixon piece is missing it's outer guard border and the main border is reduced. This rug however differs from the Dixon white ground Marsali in that this one has wool wefts and a knot count similar to several pieces listed as early 19th century.

Marasali rugs are attributed to a village south of Shemaka in the Shirvan region of the Caucasus. The exact village is a subject of conjecture but the flaming boteh rugs have been one of the very old Caucasian designs. White ground Marsali Prayer Rugs are comparatively rare and dark fields are much more common.

Structure: Symmetrical. 14 knots per horizontal inch and 11 knots per vertical inch. 154 per square inch (2387 per square decimeter).

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: wool.

Weft: 2 shots ivory wool.

Pile: 2 Wool singles.

Ends: Warp fringe (rebuilt).

Selvages: 2 warp units wrapped in white cotton.

Further Notes. The ends have been rewoven and the rug has has some re-piling. There are repairs. The rug is in excellent shape and the repairs seem good.

Direct Scan Left

One very unusual feature is the reciprocal hooks around the field. The interlocking hooks were one of the points that really attracted me to this piece.