19th-Century Shahsavan Kilim, Persian Transcaucus

This late-19th-century kilim cheerful represents the surviving pieces woven by the ethnically Turkic Shahsavan tribal confederation, which populated Persia’s northern frontiers with present-day Azerbaijan and Armenia. Devoid of any traditional border, the rug’s design exudes the drama of unbounded movement, and it is dominated by beachball-sized star motifs arranged in five powerful bands that span its full length and breadth.[1] 

The primary fields are a handsome indigo-dyed lapis lazuli, overset with eight-pointed star motifs in brick red, cream, lapis, and chocolate brown. Each band is separated by a neat row of göz (eye) motifs and trapezoidal blocks of the same colors, enlivened by the addition of saffron yellow. The workmanship present throughout is very fine, with plain weaving and slit-weave crenellations surrounding the primary design elements. The knotted fringe is in excellent, in-tact condition.