East Caucasus, c. 410 x 190 cm, 18th century symmetrical knot, unlayered, warp and weft made of silk; in the inaugural Hali magazine (1978) Pinner and Franses wrote an extensive article about rare Caucasian ‘shield’ carpets, the least known pieces were divided into three groups according to their patterns and are linked by horizontal shield-like decorations and a structure with silk foundation (which is unusual for the Caucasus), these carpets are characterised by a Turkmen white ground main border with spiral tendrils; the present carpet belongs to group 2 and displays a border with diagonal saw blade and filigree intermediate motif, as is known in only three specimens: two carpet fragments in the Kestner Museum in Hanover and one fragment in the Museum für islamische Kunst, Berlin-Dahlem; this piece is one of the largest known specimens and displays five shield rows (usually only between two and four), along with the carpet in the Ballard Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York it is characterised by the highest pattern density, low pile with comparatively large repaired areas, flaws backed with linen, both external long borders (entirely) and both ends (partly) replaced, preserved with linen on the back and viewing window showing the knotting structure. (MA)

Lit.: Robert Pinner und Michael Franses, Caucasian shield carpets, Hali, vol. 1, no. 1; J. Breck and F. Morris, The James F. Ballard Collection of Oriental Rugs; H. Erdmann, Orientteppiche, 10.-19. Jahrhundert, Catalogue of the Kestner Museum; M. S. Dimand and J. Mailey, Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Eberhart Herrmann, Von Lotto bis Tekke, Seltene Orientteppiche aus vier Jahrhunderten, ill.: 38.