Antique Caucasian Shirvan Runner

Looking closely at the design and the back, I think Shirvan is a good attribution for this runner. The relatively fine weave, elongated format, crisp geometric drawing, numerous small field ornaments, and complex multiple-border system are all consistent with late-19th-century Shirvan work. Comparable circa-1880 Shirvan runners documented by Christie's use similar rows of geometric medallions, scattered minor motifs, ivory borders and multiple narrow guard borders. This handsome example features six large stepped geometric medallions arranged vertically across a very dark indigo field. The medallions alternate between warm ivory, golden camel, soft red and blue-green, each containing distinctive hooked and geometric central devices. Numerous small rosettes, diamonds, octagons and tiny symbolic ornaments are scattered throughout the field, giving the rug the wonderfully detailed character associated with early Caucasian weaving. The border system is especially attractive. A broad ivory main border carries a continuous procession of colorful angular hooked motifs in madder red, indigo, yellow, green and brown. It is accompanied by narrower floral guard borders, including an outer dark-blue band decorated with small multicolored flowerheads. The palette is particularly beautiful and has aged very well: deep indigo, madder red, warm ivory, golden yellow, camel, blue-green, cobalt and touches of brown. some of the dark brown wool has oxidized/corroded, resulting in areas where the brown pile sits lower than the surrounding colors. I would specifically describe this as natural oxidation of the brown dye consistent with age, rather than ordinary wear. This phenomenon is also documented on comparable 19th-century Shirvans; Christie's, for example, describes a circa-1880 Shirvan runner as having “light corrosion in the brown” while otherwise being in very good condition.