Antique Caucasian Kuba Rug Size: 3'11" × 7' Date: 1880s Material: Wool on Wool Kuba is a district in the northeastern Caucasus, now part of Azerbaijan, and one of the most prolific and varied weaving centres the region produced. Kuba rugs are known for their densely worked fields, strong drawing, and a design vocabulary that includes some of the most striking large-scale geometric compositions in Caucasian weaving. This piece is built around a column of large, highly angular medallion forms stacked vertically on a deep navy field — each one a bold, serrated diamond or chevron shape in ivory, dusty rose, and warm gold, with smaller geometric devices nestled between them. The forms are large relative to the field width, giving the composition an almost monumental quality that reads strongly from a distance. Scattered throughout the navy ground are small tribal emblems, arrow forms, and geometric rosettes that fill the background without competing with the main design. What distinguishes this piece visually is the unusual softness of the secondary palette — the dusty rose and warm camel tones against the deep navy produce a warmer, less aggressive colour relationship than the typical madder-and-ivory Caucasian combination, giving the rug a richness that becomes more apparent as the eye adjusts to the dark ground. The ivory border carries a continuous geometric repeat in red and blue, well-proportioned and cleanly drawn throughout.