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The James C. Allen Azeri Gendge Long Rug This is a magnificent example of the classic stripped Gendge rug. Compare the main border to the main border in Schurmann, Ulrich. Caucasian Rugs plates 46 and 49. As well as Bennett, Ian et al. Oriental Rugs Volume 1 Caucasian, palates 151, 155, and 170. In comparing images I did not see any stripped Gendge rug in Schurmann or Bennett that I liked as well.

Provenance - Formerly of James C. Allen.

The main border to the right is a classic Azeri border. It is common with Azeri Turks as well as offshoot such as the Shahsavan. Compare this border to a Persian Varamin Area Shahsevan Ru-korsi.

Gendge rugs and Kazak rugs are closely related. One important attribution is the wefts.First of all Gendge and Kazak rugs commonly have red wefts. They also have variation in the number of shots of wefts. Here we can see places where they used two shots and others where theyused 4. Most Caucasian rugs have two shots of tan white or brown wefts. When you see red, more than two or variation in the number thing Gendge and Kazak rugs.Also this has the classical flat back we expect in Gendge rugs.

Gendge rugs are noted for the frequent use of stripes.

Gendge rugs can be as good as the best Caucasian rugs or as bad as the worst. This rug has meticulous detail and magnificent color. One of the best I have seen.

James C. Allen's Auction description.

Antique Genji Kazak small runner ART @ a-bey
Item # 924283168

Description
Here is an exceptional Museum quality Genje weaving that will make a spectacular addition when presented in your home. I have seen only a handful of rugs this nice on all of ebay in the last couple of years. In any New York shop a Genji rug like this one, around 120 years old and in pristine condition with original length pile would start somewhere over 10,000 dollars. This rug is the epitome of the true collector's rug. All vegetable dyes, very individualized design, excellent condition are all hallmarks of the collectable piece.

The town of Gendje was called Elizabethpol under the Russian Tsars and is now known a Kirovabad, the principal town in Russian Azerbaijan. It is centrally located between the weaving sites of Kazak, Shirvan and Karabagh resulting in a weaving style which shows considerable influence from these surrounding regions. This rug is conservatively dated to circa 1880. There is no one particular style that typifies the Gendje production. Perhaps the single most evident characteristic from a design standpoint is the absence of the large medallion format which typifies the Kazak aesthetic.

Here we see scattered multi-colored “flowers” scattered diagonally throughout the field, presenting a lovely visual image. Gendje rugs tend to be rather bold from a color perspective, employing mainly primary colors, as evident here in this rug.

The deep blue and brown ground is exceptionally saturated with lovely yellow, blue, eggplant, green, and red “snow-flakes” floating on the darkness of the field. The dark brown color is natural wool and is not dyed. It is worn down a tiny bit more than the surrounding colored ornaments but isn't low anywhere.

The dyes seen here are of exceptional quality and all derived from natural dyestuffs and painstakingly prepared in time honored fashion with professional skill. This polychromatic appearance is absolutely breathtaking to behold, lovely shades of beautiful primary colors in addition to a wonderful forest green.

Structurally Genje rugs differ very little from Kazak rugs. They are made with wool wefts (as this piece is) and are knotted in a similar fashion as Kazaks, not very fine for the most part but quite fine in this exceptional example. The condition of this rug is excellent, with original ends and selvedges. It measures 39 X 84 inches (3"3" X 7'). There are no repairs. The rug was kept as a heirloom for most of its life in old Soviet Georgia, where it was acquired. There is nothing in the rug world more exquisite to the feet than walking on a mint condition Caucasian rug. The wool is so soft and springy the effect is therapeutic. Bid with confidence, this is a great rug of considerable merit for collectors and inestimable value to the decorator crowd. A lovely and perfect example of Caucasian weaving at its finest,

For Further Reading:

Thanks and best wishes,

J. Barry O'Connell Jr.

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