Rare 19th Karachopf
Prayer RUG My Best a-bey jmguy was the winner. Item price $4,950.00 Ended Dec-23-01 19:33:16 PST Description Here is a rare Caucasian weaving from Karachopf, a Karachopk Prayer Rug. This ancient center was renowned for the largest and most beautiful carpets from the Caucasus Mountains in the second half of the 19th century. Many people are aware that Karachopf carpets have sold for many tens of thousands of dollars, even fifty thousand isn't too hard to imagine. The Karachopf weavers employed the best dyers and obtained the great high altitude wool, that is so very soft and durable, to weave their carpets with. There always was something special about Karachopf Kazaks and their long-standing popularity reflects that. This Prayer Rug contains many of the most basic Karachopf design elements and combines them with the large size and famous soft Karachopf wool to produce an absolute masterpiece of Caucasian rug weaving. This rug measures 4 feet 4 inches X 8 feet. The dyes are all natural and it is obvious this rug was always cherished, being well cared for it is in near mint condition. The ends have been to the beauty parlor but no repiling and the selvages are original. The pile probably isn't mint but it is FULL. The wool of the pile is incredibly soft yet the pile is still about one half inch long. The white reciprocal figures in the white ground border come absolutely alive at night. In fact this rug glows in a fire or candlelight from the incredible sheen of the wool. The back looks really old and the loose weave and great wool are consistent with a prayer rug made for local use and not for sale. This rug did in fact come directly out of the Caucasus Mountains and might well have been there for 120 to 150 years. For Further Reading: Thanks and best wishes, J. Barry O'Connell Jr. |
