Village and Commercial Rugs from the Caucasus

“Chichi” Rug,
Caucasus, 19th Century,
109.8 x 141 cm (43 1/4 x 55 1/2 in.)
Wool pile
J. Alper Smith

The restrained palette, field packed with ornaments and cotton weft of this rug are typical features of weavings from regions of Shirvan and Kuba in Eastern Azerbaijan. The border design, known as “Chichi” after a village of that name, originally had a black ground color. The black wool has now mostly worn away, softening the overall appearance of the rug. The rhythmic progression of the jewel-like floral forms in the field is musical, with their endless variation and the plethora of tiny details in between.