Museum Quality Antique Caucasian Kuba Rug, circa 1800

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A highly collectible, magnificent Afshan-Kuba rug from circa 1800. One of a family of distinguished rugs that were woven in the Northern Caucasus on commission for palaces and wealthy households. Their design inspiration was Oriental and Indian florals and arabesques. They are highly sophisticated, elegant and made to adorn splendid interiors.

This fascinating so-called "Afshan Kuba" features a navy blue field filled all-over with rosettes and palmettes linked with angular stems and tendrils in a gorgeous palette of red, light blue, camel brown, dark khaki and cream. The regal look of the field is complemented by a Kufic style main border that confers an air of distinguished sophistication. The patterns are very well-drawn and the colors are exquisite.

The rug is a long rectangular runner, made of wool and colored with organic vegetable dyes. It is very finely woven and one of the widest of its type. At over 200 years of age, its condition is outstanding.

You can see similar rugs at Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum in Istanbul and Carpet Museum in Azerbaijan.

For further information about this group of early Caucasian rugs, please look up the following books:

Early Caucasian Carpets in Turkey by Serare Yetkin

Early Caucasian Rugs by Charles Grant Ellis.